Analysis of the interaction of primate retroviruses with the human RNA interference machinery

J Virol. 2007 Nov;81(22):12218-26. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01390-07. Epub 2007 Sep 12.

Abstract

The question of whether retroviruses, including human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), interact with the cellular RNA interference machinery has been controversial. Here, we present data showing that neither HIV-1 nor human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) expresses significant levels of either small interfering RNAs or microRNAs in persistently infected T cells. We also demonstrate that the retroviral nuclear transcription factors HIV-1 Tat and HTLV-1 Tax, as well as the Tas transactivator encoded by primate foamy virus, fail to inhibit RNA interference in human cells. Moreover, the stable expression of physiological levels of HIV-1 Tat did not globally inhibit microRNA production or expression in infected human cells. Together, these data argue that HIV-1 and HTLV-1 neither induce the production of viral small interfering RNAs or microRNAs nor repress the cellular RNA interference machinery in infected cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Gene Products, tax / genetics
  • Gene Products, tax / metabolism
  • HIV-1 / genetics*
  • Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / genetics*
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / antagonists & inhibitors
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • RNA Interference*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / genetics
  • tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / metabolism

Substances

  • Gene Products, tax
  • MicroRNAs
  • Transcription Factors
  • tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • tax protein, Human T-lymphotrophic virus 1