Identification and validation of a novel mature microRNA encoded by the Merkel cell polyomavirus in human Merkel cell carcinomas.
- Abstract:
- BACKGROUND: Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is present in approximately 80% of human Merkel cell carcinomas (MCCs). A previous in silico prediction suggested MCPyV encodes a microRNA (miRNA) that may regulate cellular and viral genes. OBJECTIVES: To determine the presence and prevalence of a putative MCPyV-encoded miRNA in human MCC tumors. STUDY DESIGN: Over 30 million small RNAs from 7 cryopreserved MCC tumors and 1 perilesional sample were sequenced. 45 additional MCC tumors were examined for expression of an MCPyV-encoded mature miRNA by reverse transcription real-time PCR. RESULTS: An MCPyV-encoded mature miRNA, "MCV-miR-M1-5p", was detected by direct sequencing in 2 of 3 MCPyV-positive MCC tumors. Although a precursor miRNA, MCV-miR-M1, had been predicted in silico and studied in vitro by Seo et al., no MCPyV-encoded miRNAs have been directly detected in human tissues. Importantly, the mature sequence of MCV-miR-M1 found in vivo was identical in all 79 reads obtained but differed from the in silico predicted mature miRNA by a 2-nucleotide shift, resulting in a distinct seed region and a different set of predicted target genes. This mature miRNA was detected by real-time PCR in 50% of MCPyV-positive MCCs (n = 38) and in 0% of MCPyV-negative MCCs (n = 13). CONCLUSIONS: MCV-miR-M1-5p is expressed at low levels in 50% of MCPyV-positive MCCs. This virus-encoded miRNA is predicted to target genes that may play a role in promoting immune evasion and regulating viral DNA replication.
- Authors:
- S Lee, KG Paulson, EP Murchison, OK Afanasiev, C Alkan, JH Leonard, DR Byrd, GJ Hannon, P Nghiem
- Journal:
- J Clin Virol
- Citation info:
- 52(3):272-275
- Publication date:
- 1st Nov 2011
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- DOI