Dicer is regulated by cellular stresses and interferons

The generation of microRNAs is dependent on the RNase III enzyme Dicer, the levels of which vary in different normal cells and in disease states. We demonstrate that Dicer protein expression in JAR trophoblast cells, and several other cell types, was inhibited by multiple stresses including reactive oxygen species, phorbol esters and the Ras oncogene. Additionally, double-stranded RNA and Type I interferons repress Dicer protein in contrast to IFN-γ which induces Dicer. The effects of stresses and interferons are primarily post-transcriptional. The findings suggest that Dicer is a stress response component and identifies interferons as potentially important regulators of Dicer expression.