BK Virus Encoded MicroRNAs Are Present in Blood of Renal Transplant Recipients With BK Viral Nephropathy

• Published in: American journal of transplantation Vol. 14; no. 5; pp. 1183 - 1190
• Main Authors: Li, J. Y. Z., McNicholas, K., Yong, T. Y., Rao, N., Coates, P. T. H., Higgins, G. D., Carroll, R. P., Woodman, R. J., Michael, M. Z., Gleadle, J. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, NJ Wiley 01.05.2014; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; BK nephropathy; BK virus; BK Virus - genetics; BK Virus - isolation & purification; Blood; Case-Control Studies; DNA, Viral - genetics; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; Health risk assessment; Humans; Infectious diseases; Kidney Diseases - blood; Kidney Diseases - diagnosis; Kidney Diseases - virology; Kidney Transplantation; Male; Medical sciences; microRNA; MicroRNAs; MicroRNAs - blood; MicroRNAs - genetics; Middle Aged; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Polyomaviridae; Polyomavirus Infections - blood; Polyomavirus Infections - diagnosis; Polyomavirus Infections - virology; Prognosis; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; renal transplant; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Viral - blood; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Transplant Recipients; Transplants & implants; Viral diseases; Viral infections; Virus Replication; RNA interference; BK nephropathy; renal transplant; Hematopoietic cell; Homograft; Transplantation; Papovaviridae; Homotransplantation; Kidney; Surgery; Graft; Kidney disease; Opportunistic infection; Urinary system disease; Polyomavirus; Micro RNA; BK virus; Infection; Virus; Gene silencing; Nephropathy; Treatment; Urinary system; Viral disease; microRNA
• ISSN: 1600-6135; 1600-6143
• DOI: 10.1111/ajt.12694

BK viral infection is an important cause of renal transplant dysfunction and failure. Current strategies utilize surveillance for infection with DNA polymerase chain reaction assays and modulation of immunosuppression. Many viruses including polyomaviruses encode microRNAs (miRNAs). We have detected BK virus (BKV) encoded miRNAs in the blood of infected renal transplant recipients, and see a strong correlation between BKV encoded miRNA and BKV DNA in blood and a relationship between levels of bkv‐miR‐B1‐5p and the presence of biopsy‐proven BK viral nephropathy. Further research is needed to determine whether the detection of this and other virally encoded miRNAs may be useful in the diagnosis of active viral replication. The investigators examine for BK virus encoded microRNAs in the blood of renal transplant recipients and detect these microRNAs in patients with active BK virus nephropathy.