MicroRNA Interactions in HIV-1 Pathogenesis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous, small non-coding RNAs that fine-tune gene expression by guiding the RNA-induced silencing complex to specific messenger RNAs. In the context of HIV-1 infection, miRNAs serve dual roles: some restrict viral replication by directly targeting viral transcripts or by modulating host factors essential for the viral life cycle, while others are co-opted by the virus to facilitate entry, integration and immune evasion. HIV-1 infection reshapes the host miRNA landscape in T lymphocytes, macrophages and hematopoietic progenitors, triggering dysregulation that influences viral latency, reservoir maintenance and chronic inflammation. Specific miRNAs have been linked to control of viral accessory proteins, to alteration of cytokine signalling and to the regulation of cell-cycle and apoptotic pathways in infected cells. Conversely, HIV-1 can encode or induce host-derived miRNAs that suppress antiviral responses or enhance transcriptional activation of proviral DNA. Understanding these interactions has global significance: miRNA signatures offer non-invasive biomarkers for disease progression and treatment response, while modulation of key miRNAs holds promise for adjunctive antiviral therapies and for targeting latent reservoirs that evade conventional antiretroviral regimens.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Foundational analyses of plasma from individuals who naturally suppress HIV-1 without therapy have revealed distinct miRNA profiles in elite controllers. Circulating levels of miR-29b-3p and miR-33a-5p are elevated compared with chronic progressors and healthy donors, and functional studies demonstrate that these miRNAs reduce HIV-1 production in primary CD4+ T cells. Such findings nominate specific miRNAs as both prognostic biomarkers and as leads for design of novel miRNA-based therapeutics aimed at mimicking elite-control phenotypes.

MicroRNA Interactions in HIV-1 Pathogenesis publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in microrna interactions in hiv-1 pathogenesis across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

microRNA (miRNA): Small (~22 nt), non-coding RNA molecules that repress target mRNAs post-transcriptionally.

Elite controllers: HIV-1-infected individuals who maintain undetectable viral loads without antiretroviral therapy.

Pre-integration complex (PIC): Assemblage of viral DNA and host proteins required for transport and integration of HIV-1 genome.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART): Drug regimen designed to suppress HIV-1 replication by inhibiting viral enzymes.

References

1. The diverse roles of miRNAs in HIV pathogenesis: Current understanding and future perspectives. Frontiers in Immunology (2023).
2. Altered Host microRNAomics in HIV Infections: Therapeutic Potentials and Limitations. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2024).
3. Harnessing miRNA dynamics in HIV-1-infected macrophages: Unveiling new targeted therapeutics using systems biology. Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal (2025).
4. Expression profile of microRNAs related with viral infectivity, inflammatory response, and immune activation in people living with HIV. Frontiers in Microbiology (2023).
5. MicroRNAs differentially present in the plasma of HIV elite controllers reduce HIV infection in vitro. Scientific Reports (2014).