Microrna-21: A positive regulator for optimal production of type i and type iii interferon by plasmacytoid dendritic cells

Abstract

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are the major producers of type I and type III interferons (IFNs) that play essential roles in host antiviral immunity. MicroRNAs (miRs) are small, noncoding RNAs that can modulate many immune processes. Although molecular regulation of type I IFN production by pDCs has been studied extensively, the regulation of type III IFN production has not been studied thoroughly, particularly at posttranscriptional level. We show here that miR-21 is an essential positive regulator for the production of both IFN-α and IFN-λ by pDCs and for promoting host defense against viral infection. miR-21 was markedly upregulated in toll-like receptor (TLR)-activated pDCs and was..