The role of exosomes released from Epstein-Barr virus-infected cells

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26460545
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Virology
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Nanbo Asuka 北海道大学, 医学研究院, 准教授 (60359487)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: Epstein-Barrウイルス / エキソソーム / miRNA / 次世代シーケンシング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Infection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a ubiquitous human gamma herpesvirus, is associated with various malignancies in B lymphocytes and epithelial cells. EBV encodes 49 microRNAs. Although accumulating evidence demonstrates that EBV infection regulates the profile of microRNAs in the cells, little is known about the microRNAs in exosomes released from infected cells. Here, we characterized the expression profile of intracellular and exosomal microRNAs in EBV-negative and EBV-infected B cells by next-generation sequencing. We found that the biogenesis of exosomes is upregulated in EBV-infected cells compared with EBV-negative cells. We also observed that viral and several specific host microRNAs were predominantly incorporated in the exosomes released from EBV-infected cells. Our findings indicate that EBV infection modulates the biogenesis of exosomes and the profile of exosomal microRNAs, potentially contributing to phenotypic changes in cells receiving these exosomes.

Free Research Field

ウイルス学