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circEPSTI1 Enables Dengue Innate Immune Evasion by Sponging miR-942-5p, a Repressor of AKT1 and the Viral Genome

science

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are recently emerging transcripts that are gaining attention for their potential role in host-pathogen interactions. However, the role of circRNAs in Dengue virus (DENV) infection remains unexplored. In this study, circEPSTI1 induction was observed in DENV-infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and plasma of Dengue patients. circEPSTI1 induction is interferon-dependent, as IRF3-knockout cells completely abolished its induction. circEPSTI1 enhances DENV infection by sponging the expression of hsa-miR-942-5p. The antiviral role of hsa-miR-942-5p is mediated by bidirectional inhibition of conserved genomic sequences of the DENV genome across NS1, NS3 and NS5 and the host AKT1 signaling pathway. circEPSTI1 sponges hsa-miR-942-5p and relieves its inhibition over DENV genomic RNA and the host AKT1 signaling pathway, thus ...

BioRxiv     May 10, 2025