Human MicroRNA Responses Predict Cytomegalovirus Replication Following Solid Organ Transplantation
Authors
Sang Hoon Han ; Deepali Kumar ; Victor H. Ferreira ; Adrian Egli ; Hans H. Hirsch ; Maja Weisser ; Christian Garzoni ; Christian van Delden ; Pierre-Yves Bochud ; Oriol Manuel ; Pascal Meylan ; Katia Boggian ; Shahid Husain ; Nicolas J. Mueller ; Atul Humar ; Swiss Transplant Cohort Study
Citation
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES, Vol.215(4) : 537-546, 2017
cytomegalovirus ; microRNA ; solid organ transplant ; immediate early protein
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Homo sapiens mature micro-ribonucleic acid (miRNA)-200b-3p and 200c-3p are predicted to bind to 3' untranslated region of mRNA encoding human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) immediate early protein 2 (IE2). We hypothesized that expression of these miRNAs pretransplant could predict HCMV replication after solid organ transplantation (SOT).
METHODS: A total of 272 SOT recipients were HCMV-seropositive pretransplant and were managed using preemptive therapy. Pretransplant peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with HCMV followed by collection of RNA 1 day poststimulation. The miRNAs were quantified using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Human foreskin fibroblasts were transfected with 200b-3p and 200c-3p and infected with HCMV 1 hour post-transfection. Protein was collected at 3 days postinfection (dpi) and 7 dpi underwent immunoblotting for IE2.
RESULTS: Medians of 200b-3p and 200c-3p were significantly lower in recipients with HCMV replication (n = 144) (361.6 vs 552.6, P = .035; 3586.8 vs 12986.8 copies/μL, P = .03, respectively). Multivariate regression revealed that 200b-3p ≥100 copies/μL (odds ratio [OR]: 0.53; P = .02), was associated with less HCMV replication. Transfection with 200b-3p resulted in 2.7- and 2.5-fold decreased IE2 at 3 dpi and 7 dpi, respectively, compared to mock cells.
CONCLUSIONS: MicroRNAs may play a biologically relevant role in controlling HCMV replication post-transplant.