鸡马立克氏病是家禽养殖过程中常见的传染性疾病，马立克病毒(MDV)是引发该病的罪魁祸首。新的研究发现，microRNA(miRNA)对MDV肿瘤发生有调节作用。为更深入了解MDV肿瘤发生的分子机制，来自中国农业科学院哈尔滨兽医研究所的科研团队对MDV易感个体的宿主和病毒miRNA表达谱进行了研究。
研究人员采用miRNA芯片技术(miRNA芯片分析项目由联川生物承担完成)分析了MDV感染的宿主和病毒的miRNA表达谱。结果发现79个miRNAs有明显的差异表达，并使用qRT-PCR对结果进行了验证。实验数据表明，差异表达的miRNA可能在MDV引起的肿瘤发生过程中起主要作用。同时研究人员还发现，在GA感染鸡的脾肿瘤和非肿瘤的脾组织中，有部分宿主miRNA出现了表达上升的现象。
此研究为miRNA对MDV肿瘤发生的调控作用提供了新见解。一些差异表达的miRNAs，可以作为MDV感染和肿瘤发生的标记。
原文摘要：
Distinct expression pattern of miRNAs in Marek's disease virus infected-chicken splenic tumors and non-tumorous spleen tissues
Zhi-jie Li, Yan-ping Zhang, Yang Li, Hui-wen Zheng, Yong-sheng Zheng, Chang-jun Liu
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules that regulate gene expression. Emerging evidence suggests that differential miRNA expression is associated with viral infection and tumorigenesis. Recently discovered microRNAs in the Marek's disease virus (MDV) genome have been suggested to have regulatory roles during MDV oncogenesis. To gain more insight into the molecular mechanisms of the tumorigenesis of MDV, we used microarrays to screen host and viral miRNAs that were sensitive to infection by MDV. Microarray analysis showed significant differential expression of 79 miRNAs, which was confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis. These data suggest that differentially expressed miRNAs may have major roles in MDV-induced tumorigenesis. In addition, we found two clades of chicken miRNAs had increased expression in splenic tumors and non-tumorous spleen tissues from GA-infected chickens. Thus, the expression of these miRNAs can be considered signatures for MDV infection and tumorigenesis. |
