Influenza Virus-Induced Novel miRNAs Regulate the STAT Pathway

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are essential regulators of gene expression in humans and can control pathogenesis and host–virus interactions. Notably, the role of specific host miRNAs during influenza virus infections are still ill-defined. The central goal of this study was to identify novel miRNAs and their...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sreekumar Othumpangat, Donald H. Beezhold, Christina M. Umbright, John D. Noti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
Series:Viruses
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/6/967
_version_ 1797533018158530560
author Sreekumar Othumpangat
Donald H. Beezhold
Christina M. Umbright
John D. Noti
author_facet Sreekumar Othumpangat
Donald H. Beezhold
Christina M. Umbright
John D. Noti
author_sort Sreekumar Othumpangat
collection DOAJ
description MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are essential regulators of gene expression in humans and can control pathogenesis and host–virus interactions. Notably, the role of specific host miRNAs during influenza virus infections are still ill-defined. The central goal of this study was to identify novel miRNAs and their target genes in response to influenza virus infections in airway epithelium. Human airway epithelial cells exposed to influenza A virus (IAV) induced several novel miRNAs that were identified using next-generation sequencing (NGS) and their target genes by biochemical methods. NGS analysis predicted forty-two RNA sequences as possible miRNAs based on computational algorithms. The expression patterns of these putative miRNAs were further confirmed using RT-PCR in human bronchial epithelial cells exposed to H1N1, H9N1(1P10), and H9N1 (1WF10) strains of influenza virus. A time-course study showed significant downregulation of put-miR-34 in H1N1 and put-miR-35 in H9N1(1P10)-infected cells, which is consistent with the NGS data. Additionally, put-miR-34 and put-miR-35 showed a high fold enrichment in an argonaute-immunoprecipitation assay compared to the controls, indicating their ability to form a complex with argonaute protein and RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), which is a typical mode of action found with miRNAs. Our earlier studies have shown that the replication and survival of influenza virus is modulated by certain transcription factors such as NF-ĸB. To identify the target(s) of these putative miRNAs, we screened 84 transcription factors that have a role in viral pathogenesis. Cells transfected with mimic of the put-miR-34 showed a significant decrease in the expression of Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription 3 (STAT3), whereas the inhibitor of put-miR-34 showed a significant increase in STAT3 expression and its phosphorylation. In addition, put-miR-34 had 76% homology to the untranslated region of STAT3. NGS and PCR array data submitted to the Gene Ontology project also predicted the role of transcription factors modulated by put-miR-34. Our data suggest that put-miR-34 may be a good target for antiviral therapy.
first_indexed 2024-03-10T11:07:40Z
format Article
id doaj.art-bd1918bc54174fcfb4684efc536b2c0e
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1999-4915
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-10T11:07:40Z
publishDate 2021-05-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Viruses
spelling doaj.art-bd1918bc54174fcfb4684efc536b2c0e2023-11-21T21:01:22ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152021-05-0113696710.3390/v13060967Influenza Virus-Induced Novel miRNAs Regulate the STAT PathwaySreekumar Othumpangat0Donald H. Beezhold1Christina M. Umbright2John D. Noti3Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV 26505, USAAllergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV 26505, USAToxicology and Molecular Biology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV 26505, USAAllergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV 26505, USAMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are essential regulators of gene expression in humans and can control pathogenesis and host–virus interactions. Notably, the role of specific host miRNAs during influenza virus infections are still ill-defined. The central goal of this study was to identify novel miRNAs and their target genes in response to influenza virus infections in airway epithelium. Human airway epithelial cells exposed to influenza A virus (IAV) induced several novel miRNAs that were identified using next-generation sequencing (NGS) and their target genes by biochemical methods. NGS analysis predicted forty-two RNA sequences as possible miRNAs based on computational algorithms. The expression patterns of these putative miRNAs were further confirmed using RT-PCR in human bronchial epithelial cells exposed to H1N1, H9N1(1P10), and H9N1 (1WF10) strains of influenza virus. A time-course study showed significant downregulation of put-miR-34 in H1N1 and put-miR-35 in H9N1(1P10)-infected cells, which is consistent with the NGS data. Additionally, put-miR-34 and put-miR-35 showed a high fold enrichment in an argonaute-immunoprecipitation assay compared to the controls, indicating their ability to form a complex with argonaute protein and RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), which is a typical mode of action found with miRNAs. Our earlier studies have shown that the replication and survival of influenza virus is modulated by certain transcription factors such as NF-ĸB. To identify the target(s) of these putative miRNAs, we screened 84 transcription factors that have a role in viral pathogenesis. Cells transfected with mimic of the put-miR-34 showed a significant decrease in the expression of Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription 3 (STAT3), whereas the inhibitor of put-miR-34 showed a significant increase in STAT3 expression and its phosphorylation. In addition, put-miR-34 had 76% homology to the untranslated region of STAT3. NGS and PCR array data submitted to the Gene Ontology project also predicted the role of transcription factors modulated by put-miR-34. Our data suggest that put-miR-34 may be a good target for antiviral therapy.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/6/967novel miRNAepithelial cellsSTAT pathwayinfluenza virus
spellingShingle Sreekumar Othumpangat
Donald H. Beezhold
Christina M. Umbright
John D. Noti
Influenza Virus-Induced Novel miRNAs Regulate the STAT Pathway
Viruses
novel miRNA
epithelial cells
STAT pathway
influenza virus
title Influenza Virus-Induced Novel miRNAs Regulate the STAT Pathway
title_full Influenza Virus-Induced Novel miRNAs Regulate the STAT Pathway
title_fullStr Influenza Virus-Induced Novel miRNAs Regulate the STAT Pathway
title_full_unstemmed Influenza Virus-Induced Novel miRNAs Regulate the STAT Pathway
title_short Influenza Virus-Induced Novel miRNAs Regulate the STAT Pathway
title_sort influenza virus induced novel mirnas regulate the stat pathway
topic novel miRNA
epithelial cells
STAT pathway
influenza virus
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/6/967
work_keys_str_mv AT sreekumarothumpangat influenzavirusinducednovelmirnasregulatethestatpathway
AT donaldhbeezhold influenzavirusinducednovelmirnasregulatethestatpathway
AT christinamumbright influenzavirusinducednovelmirnasregulatethestatpathway
AT johndnoti influenzavirusinducednovelmirnasregulatethestatpathway