Transcription factor Runx1 recruits the polyomavirus replication origin to replication factories

Viral Encoded miRNAs in Tumorigenesis: Theranostic Opportunities in Precision Oncology

About 15% of all human cancers have a viral etiology. Although progress has been made, understanding the viral oncogenesis and associated molecular mechanisms remain complex. The discovery of cellular miRNAs has led to major breakthroughs. Interestingly, viruses have also been discovered to encode their own miRNAs. These viral, small, non-coding miRNAs are also known as viral-miRNAs (v-miRNAs). Although the function of v-miRNAs largely remains to be elucidated, their role in tumorigenesis cannot be ignored. V-miRNAs have also been shown to exploit the cellular machinery to benefit viral replication and survival. Although the discovery of Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and its viral miRNAs, is a work in progress, the existence of HPV-, EBV-, HBV-, MCPyV- and KSHV-encoded miRNA has been documented. V-miRNAs have been shown to target host factors to advance tumorigenesis, evade and suppress the immune system, and deregulate both the cell cycle and the apoptotic machinery. Although the exact mechanisms of v-miRNAs-induced tumorigenesis are still unclear, v-miRNAs are active role-players in tumorigenesis, viral latency and cell transformation. Furthermore, v-miRNAs can function as posttranscriptional gene regulators of both viral and host genes. Thus, it has been proposed that v-miRNAs may serve as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for cancers with a viral etiology. Although significant challenges exist in their clinical application, emerging reports demonstrate their potent role in precision medicine. This review will focus on the roles of HPV-, HCV-, EBV-, HBV-, MCPyV-, and KSHV-produced v-miRNAs in tumorigenesis, as effectors in immune evasion, as diagnostic biomarkers and as novel anti-cancer therapeutic targets. Finally, it will discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with v-miRNAs theranostics in precision oncology.

RUNX1 inhibits the antiviral immune response against influenza A virus through attenuating type I interferon signaling

Background

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) are zoonotic, segmented negative-stranded RNA viruses. The rapid mutation of IAVs results in host immune response escape and antiviral drug and vaccine resistance. RUNX1 is a transcription factor that not only plays essential roles in hematopoiesis, but also functions as a regulator in inflammation. However, its role in the innate immunity to IAV infection has not been well studied.

Methods

To investigate the effects of RUNX1 on IAV infection and explore the mechanisms that RUNX1 uses during IAV infection. We infected the human alveolar epithelial cell line (A549) with influenza virus A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) (PR8) and examined RUNX1 expression by Western blot and qRT-PCR. We also knocked down or overexpressed RUNX1 in A549 cells, then evaluated viral replication by Western blot, qRT-PCR, and viral titration.

Results

We found RUNX1 expression is induced by IAV H1N1 PR8 infection, but not by poly(I:C) treatment, in the human alveolar epithelial cell line A549. Knockdown of RUNX1 significantly inhibited IAV infection. Conversely, overexpression of RUNX1 efficiently promoted production of progeny viruses. Additionally, RUNX1 knockdown increased IFN-β and ISGs production while RUNX1 overexpression compromised IFN-β and ISGs production upon PR8 infection in A549 cells. We further showed that RUNX1 may attenuate the interferon signaling transduction by hampering the expression of IRF3 and STAT1 during IAV infection.

Conclusions

Taken together, we found RUNX1 attenuates type I interferon signaling to facilitate IAV infection in A549 cells.

RUNX1-mediated alphaherpesvirus-host trans-species chromatin interaction promotes viral transcription

Like most DNA viruses, herpesviruses precisely deliver their genomes into the sophisticatedly organized nuclei of the infected host cells to initiate subsequent transcription and replication. However, it remains elusive how the viral genome specifically interacts with the host genome and hijacks host transcription machinery. Using pseudorabies virus (PRV) as model virus, we performed chromosome conformation capture assays to demonstrate a genome-wide specific trans-species chromatin interaction between the virus and host. Our data show that the PRV genome is delivered by the host DNA binding protein RUNX1 into the open chromatin and active transcription zone. This facilitates virus hijacking host RNAPII to efficiently transcribe viral genes, which is significantly inhibited by either a RUNX1 inhibitor or RNA interference. Together, these findings provide insights into the chromatin interaction between viral and host genomes and identify new areas of research to advance the understanding of herpesvirus genome transcription.

Murine polyomavirus DNA transitions through spatially distinct nuclear replication subdomains during infection

The replication of small DNA viruses requires both host DNA replication and repair factors that are often recruited to subnuclear domains termed viral replication centers (VRCs). Aside from serving as a spatial focus for viral replication, little is known about these dynamic areas in the nucleus. We investigated the organization and function of VRCs during murine polyomavirus (MuPyV) infection using 3D structured illumination microscopy (3D-SIM). We localized MuPyV replication center components, such as the viral large T-antigen (LT) and the cellular replication protein A (RPA), to spatially distinct subdomains within VRCs. We found that viral DNA (vDNA) trafficked sequentially through these subdomains post-synthesis, suggesting their distinct functional roles in vDNA processing. Additionally, we observed disruption of VRC organization and vDNA trafficking during mutant MuPyV infections or inhibition of DNA synthesis. These results reveal a dynamic organization of VRC components that coordinates virus replication.

Viral miRNAs as Active Players and Participants in Tumorigenesis

The theory that viruses play a role in human cancers is now supported by scientific evidence. In fact, around 12% of human cancers, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in some regions, are attributed to viral infections. However, the molecular mechanism remains complex to decipher. In recent decades, the uncovering of cellular miRNAs, with their invaluable potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, has increased the number of studies being conducted regarding human cancer diagnosis. Viruses develop clever mechanisms to succeed in the maintenance of the viral life cycle, and some viruses, especially herpesviruses, encode for miRNA, v-miRNAs. Through this viral miRNA, the viruses are able to manipulate cellular and viral gene expression, driving carcinogenesis and escaping the host innate or adaptive immune system. In this review, we have discussed the main viral miRNAs and virally influenced cellular pathways, and their capability to drive carcinogenesis.

Identification and validation of a novel mature microRNA encoded by the Merkel cell polyomavirus in human Merkel cell carcinomas

BACKGROUND

Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is present in approximately 80% of human Merkel cell carcinomas (MCCs). A previous in silico prediction suggested MCPyV encodes a microRNA (miRNA) that may regulate cellular and viral genes.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the presence and prevalence of a putative MCPyV-encoded miRNA in human MCC tumors.

STUDY DESIGN

Over 30 million small RNAs from 7 cryopreserved MCC tumors and 1 perilesional sample were sequenced. 45 additional MCC tumors were examined for expression of an MCPyV-encoded mature miRNA by reverse transcription real-time PCR.

RESULTS

An MCPyV-encoded mature miRNA, "MCV-miR-M1-5p", was detected by direct sequencing in 2 of 3 MCPyV-positive MCC tumors. Although a precursor miRNA, MCV-miR-M1, had been predicted in silico and studied in vitro by Seo et al., no MCPyV-encoded miRNAs have been directly detected in human tissues. Importantly, the mature sequence of MCV-miR-M1 found in vivo was identical in all 79 reads obtained but differed from the in silico predicted mature miRNA by a 2-nucleotide shift, resulting in a distinct seed region and a different set of predicted target genes. This mature miRNA was detected by real-time PCR in 50% of MCPyV-positive MCCs (n = 38) and in 0% of MCPyV-negative MCCs (n = 13).

CONCLUSIONS

MCV-miR-M1-5p is expressed at low levels in 50% of MCPyV-positive MCCs. This virus-encoded miRNA is predicted to target genes that may play a role in promoting immune evasion and regulating viral DNA replication.

A multiprotein complex necessary for both transcription and DNA replication at the β-globin locus

DNA replication, repair, transcription and chromatin structure are intricately associated nuclear processes, but the molecular links between these events are often obscure. In this study, we have surveyed the protein complexes that bind at β-globin locus control region, and purified and characterized the function of one such multiprotein complex from human erythroleukemic K562 cells. We further validated the existence of this complex in human CD34+ cell-derived normal erythroid cells. This complex contains ILF2/ILF3 transcription factors, p300 acetyltransferase and proteins associated with DNA replication, transcription and repair. RNAi knockdown of ILF2, a DNA-binding component of this complex, abrogates the recruitment of the complex to its cognate DNA sequence and inhibits transcription, histone acetylation and usage of the origin of DNA replication at the β-globin locus. These results imply a direct link between mammalian DNA replication, transcription and histone acetylation mediated by a single multiprotein complex.

RUNX1 permits E4orf6-directed nuclear localization of the adenovirus E1B-55K protein and associates with centers of viral DNA and RNA synthesis

The localization of the adenovirus E1B-55K-E4orf6 protein complex is critical for its function. Prior studies demonstrated that E4orf6 directs the nuclear localization of E1B-55K in human cells and in rodent cells that contain part of human chromosome 21. We show here that the relevant activity on chromosome 21 maps to RUNX1. RUNX1 proteins are transcription factors that serve as scaffolds for the assembly of proteins that regulate transcription and RNA processing. After transfection, the RUNX1a, RUNX1b, and RUNX1-DeltaN variants allowed E4orf6-directed E1B-55K nuclear localization. The failure of RUNX1c to allow nuclear colocalization was relieved by the deletion of amino-terminal residues of this protein. In the adenovirus-infected mouse cell, RUNX1 proteins were localized to discrete structures about the periphery of viral replication centers. These sites are enriched in viral RNA and RNA-processing factors. RUNX1b and RUNX1a proteins displaced E4orf6 from these sites. The association of E1B-55K at viral replication centers was enhanced by the RUNX1a and RUNX1b proteins, but only in the absence of E4orf6. In the presence of E4orf6, E1B-55K occurred in a perinuclear cytoplasmic body resembling the aggresome and was excluded from the nucleus of the infected mouse cell. We interpret these findings to mean that a dynamic relationship exists between the E4orf6, E1B-55K, and RUNX1 proteins. In cooperation with E4orf6, RUNX1 proteins are able to modulate the localization of E1B-55K and even remodel virus-specific structures that form at late times of infection. Subsequent studies will need to determine a functional consequence of the interaction between E4orf6, E1B-55K, and RUNX1.