From the targets identified to date (Table 1, Figure 1) it is apparent that viral miRNAs play an important role in immune evasion by inhibiting immune surveillance and extending the life of the infected host cell. Table 1 Immunomodulatory viral miRNAs.
EBV miR-BART1, -16, and -17 reduce the expression of EBV LMP1 to prevent its overexpression.LMP1 without a ligand drives proliferation of EBV-infected B cells by signaling within the B cells similar to the signaling of the cellular CD40 receptor.
EBV-encoded BART miRNAs target the 3'-UTRs of viral genes, such as LMP1, BALF5, and LMP2A genes, and negatively regulate expression of these viral genes.On the other hand, EBV miRNAs repress cellular proteins, which include p53 up-regulated modulator of apoptosis(PUMA), DICER1, and BIM. Table 2 EBV-derived miRNAs and their target genes.
