microRNA-422a promotes HIV replication and innate immune evasion by targeting MECP2

Abstract

Understanding the mechanisms underlying interferon-alpha (IFNα) anti-human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) effects and HIV-1 innate immune evasion is critical to developing improved antiviral strategies. We previously reported that the microRNA (miRNA) miR-422a was the sole miRNA downregulated by IFNα treatment in vivo in people living with HIV (PLWH), and the extent of miR-422a reduction was correlated with viral load reduction. Here, we investigated the molecular basis of this relationship by examining the role of miR-422a in HIV replication and innate immune evasion. We observed that HIV-1 infection induces miR-422a expression in primary CD4+ T cells via the viral Nef accessory prot..