Hepatitis C virus RNA functionally sequesters miR-122

Cell. 2015 Mar 12;160(6):1099-110. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2015.02.025.

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) uniquely requires the liver-specific microRNA-122 for replication, yet global effects on endogenous miRNA targets during infection are unexplored. Here, high-throughput sequencing and crosslinking immunoprecipitation (HITS-CLIP) experiments of human Argonaute (AGO) during HCV infection showed robust AGO binding on the HCV 5'UTR at known and predicted miR-122 sites. On the human transcriptome, we observed reduced AGO binding and functional mRNA de-repression of miR-122 targets during virus infection. This miR-122 "sponge" effect was relieved and redirected to miR-15 targets by swapping the miRNA tropism of the virus. Single-cell expression data from reporters containing miR-122 sites showed significant de-repression during HCV infection depending on expression level and site number. We describe a quantitative mathematical model of HCV-induced miR-122 sequestration and propose that such miR-122 inhibition by HCV RNA may result in global de-repression of host miR-122 targets, providing an environment fertile for the long-term oncogenic potential of HCV.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Argonaute Proteins / metabolism
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factors / metabolism
  • Hepacivirus / genetics
  • Hepacivirus / metabolism*
  • Hepatitis C / metabolism*
  • Hepatitis C / virology*
  • Humans
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / virology
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • RNA, Viral / chemistry
  • RNA, Viral / metabolism*
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • AGO1 protein, human
  • Argonaute Proteins
  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factors
  • MIRN122 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Viral

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE64680