Role of microRNAs in HTLV-1 infection

The human T cell leukemia virus-1 (HTLV-1) is a retrovirus that causes adultT cell leukemia (ATL) and the neurodegenerative disease, HTLV-1-associatedmyelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). HAM/TSP is a diseasewith important biological similarities to multiple sclerosis.MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a new class of a small group of non-coding RNAmolecules that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level bydegrading or blocking translation of messenger RNA (mRNA). SincemicroRNAs affect cellular proliferation, differentiation, modulationinflammatory and ultimately, can play a part in neurologic disease such asHAM/TSP. We investigated their roles in HTLV-1 pathogenesis.Several articles reported that miRNAs expression in HTLV-1 infected directlyinduced by Tax through activation of NF-κB signaling. Also, some of themiRNAs lead to up-regulated by Tax via promoter activation mediated by NF-κB. Numerous study demonstrated an associated between HTLV-1 infect andmodulation of human miRNA expression. Despite the efforts to characterizemiRNA expression profiles, only a few studies functionally analyzed themiRNAs in HAM/TSP and ATL patient.In the present review study, we discuss the recognized functions andcharacteristics of microRNAs and their role in the HTLV-1 infect. MicroRNAsare essential for modulating the expression of TAX in HAM/TSP and ATL.Suggested, they are great promise as a new non-invasive biomarker forclinical diagnosis that can be targeted by novel classes of drugs. The completecomprehension of the miRNAs function will thus provide insights into theseprocesses and might diagnostic and therapeutic advances in HAM/TSPtreatment and significantly reduce the risk of patient relapse.

Keywords:

MicroRNA , HTLV-1 , HAM/TSP , Neurologic disease