Respiratory syncytial virus nonstructural protein 1 downregulates glucocorticoid receptor expression through miR-29a

In contrast to asthma, the inflammatory response induced by human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is refractory to glucocorticoid treatment1,2 for reasons that are not clear. Reduced corticosteroid responsiveness at the cellular and clinical level is associated with reduced numbers of glucocorticoid receptor (GRs).3,4 We previously showed that RSV infection downregulated GR mRNA and protein levels in RSV-infected A549  cells and in BALB/c mice.5 Other studies showed that downregulated GR levels were associated with an increase in the microRNAs (miRNAs) miR-124-3p, miR-142-3p, and miR-29a.
Source: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research