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Review
. 2019 Nov 1;20(21):5454.
doi: 10.3390/ijms20215454.

The Roles of MicroRNAs (miRNAs) in Avian Response to Viral Infection and Pathogenesis of Avian Immunosuppressive Diseases

Linyi Zhou  1   2 , Shijun J Zheng  3   4
Affiliations
Review

The Roles of MicroRNAs (miRNAs) in Avian Response to Viral Infection and Pathogenesis of Avian Immunosuppressive Diseases

Linyi Zhou et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding small RNAs that play important roles in the regulation of various biological processes including cell development and differentiation, apoptosis, tumorigenesis, immunoregulation and viral infections. Avian immunosuppressive diseases refer to those avian diseases caused by pathogens that target and damage the immune organs or cells of the host, increasing susceptibility to other microbial infections and the risk of failure in subsequent vaccination against other diseases. As such, once a disease with an immunosuppressive feature occurs in flocks, it would be difficult for the stakeholders to have an optimal economic income. Infectious bursal disease (IBD), avian leukemia (AL), Marek's disease (MD), chicken infectious anemia (CIA), reticuloendotheliosis (RE) and avian reovirus infection are on the top list of commonly-seen avian diseases with a feature of immunosuppression, posing an unmeasurable threat to the poultry industry across the globe. Understanding the pathogenesis of avian immunosuppressive disease is the basis for disease prevention and control. miRNAs have been shown to be involved in host response to pathogenic infections in chickens, including regulation of immunity, tumorigenesis, cell proliferation and viral replication. Here we summarize current knowledge on the roles of miRNAs in avian response to viral infection and pathogenesis of avian immunosuppressive diseases, in particular, MD, AL, IBD and RE.

Keywords: chickens; host response; immunosuppressive diseases; miRNA.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The founding sponsors had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, and in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic diagram of the roles of cellular miRNAs in the pathogenesis of Marek’s disease virus (MDV)-1 infection. After MDV-1 infects cells, the expressions of some cellular miRNAs are upregulated or downregulated, and they participate in MDV-1 induced tumors by targeting related genes. PDCD4: programmed cell death 4; NEK6: Never In Mitosis Gene A (NIMA)-related kinase 6; MYBL1: MYB proto-oncogene like 1; CCNE1: cyclin E1; TFDP2: transcription factor Dp-2; HOXA3: Homeobox A3; MDFIC: myogenic differentiation (MyoD) family inhibitor domain containing; MMP2: matrix metallopeptidase 2; MMP9: matrix metallopeptidase 9; BCL11B: B-cell chronic lymphocytic /lymphoma 11B.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic diagram of the roles of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of avian leukosis virus (ALV)-J infection. After ALV-J infection, viral-encoded miRNA and host miRNAs are involved in tumorigenesis and viral replication. CDKN1B: cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1B; YAP1: yes-associated protein 1; MDA5: melanoma differentiation associated gene 5; IRF1: interferon regulatory factor 1.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Schematic diagram of the roles of cellular miRNAs in host response to infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) infection and viral replication. After IBDV infection, some cellular miRNAs were differentially expressed. These miRNAs promote or inhibit virus replication by directly targeting the genome of IBDV or molecules that regulate innate immunity. IRF2: interferon regulatory factor 2; MDA5: melanoma differentiation associated gene 5; SOCS1: suppressor of cytokine signaling 1; TANK: TRAF family member associated NF-κB activator; SOCS5: suppressor of cytokine signaling 5; SOCS6: suppressor of cytokine signaling 6.
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