AUTHOR=Wu Wenjiao , Wang Chao , Xia Changliang , Liu Shuwen , Mei Qinghua 

TITLE=MicroRNA let-7 Suppresses Influenza A Virus Infection by Targeting RPS16 and Enhancing Type I Interferon Response

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2022.904775

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2022.904775

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<p>Given the frequent emergence of drug-resistant influenza virus strains and new highly pathogenic influenza virus strains, there is an urgent need to identify new antiviral drugs and targets. We found that influenza A virus (IAV) infection caused a significant decrease of microRNA let-7 expression in host cells; that overexpression of let-7 increased interferon expression and effectively inhibit IAV infection; and that let-7 targets the 3’-untranslated region (UTR) of the ribosomal protein 16 (<italic>RPS16</italic>) gene, decreasing its expression. Knocking down the expression of <italic>RPS16</italic> increased the expression of type I interferon and inhibited viral replication. The present study uncovered the regulatory effect of let-7b and let-7f on influenza A infection, which is a potential biomarker of IAV infection. In addition, let-7 may be a promising therapeutic agent against influenza A.</p>