ssc-miR-361-3p Suppresses Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) Replication and Its In Vivo Expression in Mice.

Abstract

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is one of the most economically devastating diseases affecting the global pig industry. Host microRNAs directly target viral gene regions to exert their disease-fighting effects. PRRS virus (PRRSV) infection upregulates miR-361-3p expression; however, it is unclear whether it can exert inhibitory effects by directly targeting viral genes. Bioinformatic and experimental findings revealed that miR-361-3p inhibited PRRSV replication by directly targeting the PRRSV ORF1b and ORF1a loci. Intramuscular injection of pcDNA3.1-pri-miR-361 verified the expression of miR-361-3p in mammals. In summary, miR-361-3p plays an important role in infection and may be a promising therapeutic target for PRRS, providing insights into possible drug therapies.