Persistently adenovirus-infected lymphoid cells express microRNAs derived from the viral VAI and especially VAII RNA

- We analyzed microRNA expression in persistently adenovirus-infected lymphoid cells.
- Our data demonstrate readily detectable levels of viral microRNAs.
- We report a highly expressed novel viral microRNA.
- These data suggest that viral microRNAs may regulate viral latency.

Human adenovirus can establish latent infections in lymphoid tissues in vivo and persistent, infections in cultured lymphoid cell lines. During lytic infection, adenovirus expresses microRNAs (miRNAs) derived from the viral non-coding RNAs VAI and, especially, VAII. Here, we demonstrate that persistently adenovirus-infected human BJAB cells also produce adenovirus-derived miRNAs primarily derived from the viral VAII RNA, which contributes ~2.7% of all RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC)-associated RNAs. However, our data indicate that the 5′ end of the predominant VAII-derived viral RNA, and hence its seed sequence, differs from what has been previously reported. Our data demonstrate that adenovirus expresses viral miRNAs in chronically infected lymphoid cells and raise the possibility that these may contribute to the maintenance of the latently adenovirus-infected lymphoid cells previously observed in mucosal-associated lymphoid tissues in vivo.