from Amy S. Gardiner, Abigail I. Wald and Saleem A. Khan writing in Small DNA Tumour Viruses:
In recent years, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been found to play important roles in the regulation of gene expression in mammalian cells. MiRNAs regulate many processes, including cell cycle progression, cell differentiation and organogenesis. Human cells encode approximately 1,000 miRNAs, and their expression has been shown to be altered in a variety of human cancers. Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are DNA tumour viruses that are associated with cancers, especially cancers of the cervix and oropharynx. Recently, several studies have shown altered expression of miRNAs in HPV-associated cervical and oral cancers. In this article, we discuss the role of HPVs and their oncogenes in altering cellular miRNA expression, possible targets of such miRNAs, and how miRNA changes may contribute to the pathogenesis of HPV-associated cancers.
Further reading: Small DNA Tumour Viruses Related publications