Dynamically Expressed miR-BART16 Functions as a Suppressor of CAND1 in Infectious Mononucleosis Caused by Epstein-Barr Virus in Children.

OBJECTIVE

MiR-BART16 is a newly discovered Epstein-Barr Virus-encoded microRNA (miRNA). We aimed to explore the role of EBV-miR-BART16 in infectious mononucleosis (IM).

METHODS

Peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets were analyzed in 30 IM and 10 healthy children by flow cytometry. MiR-BART16 and its targets were measured by real-time PCR, western blot, ELISA, and dual-luciferase assay.

RESULTS

Serum miR-BART16 expression was significantly higher in the IM children than that in the healthy children, and was positively correlated with EBV copy number. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed serum miR-BART16 could differentiate IM and healthy individuals (P=0.0041). CAND1 was targeted and downregulated by miR-BART16 in an EBV infection-dependent way.

CONCLUSIONS

These results highlight that EBV-miR-BART16 plays an important role in regulating the expression of CAND1 to affect pediatric IM.