Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) were first identified in Caenorhabditis briggsae and later recognized as playing pivotal roles in a vast range of cellular activities. It has been shown that miRNAs are an important mechanism not only for host defense against virus but also for the establishment of viral infection. During human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection, host miRNA profiles are altered either as a host response against the virus or alternatively as a mechanism for the virus to facilitate viral replication and infection or to maintain latency. The altered miRNA profiles can be detected and quantified by various advanced assays, and potentially serve as more sensitive, accurate and cost-efficient biomarkers for HIV-1 diagnosis and disease progression than those detected by currently available standard clinical assays. Such new biomarkers are critical for optimizing treatment regimens. In this review, we focus on the potential application of miRNA profiling to the diagnosis of HIV-1 infection and the monitoring of disease progression.
Highlights
MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression
human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication within host cells is regulated by various host factors, including miRNAs, which may target virus messenger RNAs (mRNAs) directly or regulate the expression of host proteins that HIV-1 hijacks for its own replication
While there are still some pieces missing from the puzzle before miRNAs can be used as clinical biomarkers for HIV-1 infection and HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) disease progression, many studies, as reviewed in this article, have demonstrated the potentials of miRNAs as biomarkers for these clinical processes
Summary
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression. More than 1500 different miRNAs have been identified, which collectively regulate the expression of about one third of all human genes (Li and Zhang, 2013). MiRNA research has advanced considerably in recent years. It has been shown that the expression of many miRNAs is altered during human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. Changes in miRNA expression in infected humans can be detected with various advanced assays (AffymetrixTM assay, digital droplet qPCR, etc., and sequencing). MiRNAs can potentially be used to detect HIV-1 infection and monitor disease progression with greater sensitivity and efficiency than conventional methods. This review provides an overview of current knowledge concerning miRNA and its relation to HIV-1 infection and disease progression.
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