Logo image
RNA silencing as a cellular defense against HIV-1 infection: progress and issues
Journal article   Peer reviewed

RNA silencing as a cellular defense against HIV-1 infection: progress and issues

Viraj R Sanghvi and Laura F Steel
The FASEB journal, v 26(10), pp 3937-3945
Oct 2012
PMID: 22751007

Abstract

HIV Infections - prevention & control Animals HIV Infections - genetics Humans MicroRNAs - genetics RNA, Small Interfering RNA Interference - physiology
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known to have a role in gene regulation that is closely integrated into the pathways that control virtually all fundamental cell processes of growth, differentiation, metabolism, and death. Whether silencing RNAs and the cellular pathways that generate them are also used in antiviral defense in higher eukaryotes, as they are in plants and lower eukaryotes, has been the subject of much study. Results to date point to a complex interplay between viruses and vertebrate host cells that can vary considerably among different viruses. Here, we review current knowledge regarding interactions between HIV-1 and host cell RNA silencing mechanisms. Important questions in this field remain unresolved, including whether HIV-1 itself encodes small silencing RNAs that might either promote or repress its replication, whether host cell miRNAs can directly target viral transcripts or can alter the course of infection indirectly through effects on cellular genes necessary for viral replication, and whether HIV-1 produces proteins or RNAs that suppress the host-silencing pathway. We summarize evidence and controversies related to the potential role of RNA silencing pathways as a defense against HIV-1 infection.

Metrics

13 Record Views
16 citations in Scopus

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

InCites Highlights

Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:

Web of Science research areas
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Biology
Cell Biology
Logo image