Host-derived circular RNAs display proviral activities in Hepatitis C virus-infected cells

PLoS Pathog. 2020 Aug 7;16(8):e1008346. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008346. eCollection 2020 Aug.

Abstract

Viruses subvert macromolecular pathways in infected host cells to aid in viral gene amplification or to counteract innate immune responses. Roles for host-encoded, noncoding RNAs, including microRNAs, have been found to provide pro- and anti-viral functions. Recently, circular RNAs (circRNAs), that are generated by a nuclear back-splicing mechanism of pre-mRNAs, have been implicated to have roles in DNA virus-infected cells. This study examines the circular RNA landscape in uninfected and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected liver cells. Results showed that the abundances of distinct classes of circRNAs were up-regulated or down-regulated in infected cells. Identified circRNAs displayed pro-viral effects. One particular up-regulated circRNA, circPSD3, displayed a very pronounced effect on viral RNA abundances in both hepatitis C virus- and Dengue virus-infected cells. Though circPSD3 has been shown to bind factor eIF4A3 that modulates the cellular nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) pathway, circPSD3 regulates RNA amplification in a pro-viral manner at a post-translational step, while eIF4A3 exhibits the anti-viral property of the NMD pathway. Findings from the global analyses of the circular RNA landscape argue that pro-, and likely, anti-viral functions are executed by circRNAs that modulate viral gene expression as well as host pathways. Because of their long half-lives, circRNAs likely play hitherto unknown, important roles in viral pathogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / virology*
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases / genetics
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases / metabolism
  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4A / genetics
  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4A / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Hepacivirus / genetics*
  • Hepatitis C / complications*
  • Hepatitis C / virology
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / genetics
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Liver Neoplasms / virology*
  • Nonsense Mediated mRNA Decay
  • Proviruses / genetics*
  • RNA, Circular / genetics*
  • RNA, Viral / genetics*
  • Viral Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism
  • Virus Replication*

Substances

  • RNA, Circular
  • RNA, Viral
  • Viral Proteins
  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4A
  • EIF4A3 protein, human
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases