MicroRNA let-7 and viral infections: focus on mechanisms of action.

Michael R Hamblin, Seyed Saeed Tamehri Zadeh, Javid Sadri Nahand, Mohammad Abbasi-Kolli, Mohammad Karimzadeh, Ali Shahini, Arash Letafati, Sajad Najafi, Mehran Mottahedi, Setareh Garousi, Neda Rahimian, Mohammad Taghizadieh, Hamed Mirzaei

Journal: Cellular & molecular biology letters 2022;27(1):14

PMID: 35164678

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Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are fundamental post-transcriptional modulators of several critical cellular processes, a number of which are involved in host defense mechanisms. In particular, miRNA let-7 functions as an essential regulator of the function and differentiation of both innate and adaptive immune cells. Let-7 is involved in several human diseases, including cancer and viral infections. Several viral infections have found ways to dysregulate the expression of miRNAs. Extracellular vesicles (EV) are membrane-bound lipid structures released from many types of human cells that can transport proteins, lipids, mRNAs, and miRNAs, including let-7. After their release, EVs are taken up by the recipient cells and their contents released into the cytoplasm. Let-7-loaded EVs have been suggested to affect cellular pathways and biological targets in the recipient cells, and can modulate viral replication, the host antiviral response, and the action of cancer-related viruses. In the present review, we summarize the available knowledge concerning the expression of let-7 family members, functions, target genes, and mechanistic involvement in viral pathogenesis and host defense. This may provide insight into the development of new therapeutic strategies to manage viral infections.

Address: Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.; Department of Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.; Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.; Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.; Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.; Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.; School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.; Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, 2028, South Africa.; Endocrine Research Center, Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran. [email protected].; Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Firoozgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. [email protected].; Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Center for Women's Health Research Zahra, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Islamic Republic of Iran. [email protected].; Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran. [email protected].; Student Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran. [email protected].

DOI: 10.1186/s11658-022-00317-9