Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology (Jul 2018)

MicroRNA-199a Inhibits Cellular Autophagy and Downregulates IFN-β Expression by Targeting TBK1 in Mycobacterium bovis Infected Cells

  • Jie Wang,
  • Tariq Hussain,
  • Ruichao Yue,
  • Yi Liao,
  • Qiang Li,
  • Jiao Yao,
  • Yinjuan Song,
  • Xin Sun,
  • Nan Wang,
  • Lei Xu,
  • Srinand Sreevatsan,
  • Deming Zhao,
  • Xiangmei Zhou

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2018.00238
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

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The mechanism by which microRNAs (miRNAs) modulate innate immunity and autophagy has not been fully elucidated in Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) infections. In this study, we identified that miR-199a inhibited key innate immune responses and autophagy in murine macrophages infected with M. bovis. Using ex vivo and in vitro approaches we show that the expression of miR-199a was significantly increased during M. bovis infection. Furthermore, miR-199a suppressed autophagy and interferon-β (IFN-β) production by directly targeting TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) mRNA in both J774a.1 and BMDM cells. Upregulation of miR-199a or TBK1 silencing (siTBK1) inhibited maturation of autophagosomes and increased M. bovis survival. Our results demonstrate that, by targeting of TBK1, miR-199a modulates innate immune responses and promote the intracellular survival and growth of M. bovis.

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