Somatic <i>Miwi2</i> modulates mitochondrial function in airway multiciliated cells and exacerbates influenza pathogenesis.

ABSTRACT: MIWI2, a P element-induced wimpy testes (PIWI) argonaute protein known for suppressing retrotransposons during male gonadogenesis, has an unexplored role in mammalian somatic cells. We identify MIWI2 multiciliated (M2MC) cells as a rare subset of airway multiciliated cells and investigate MIWI2's function in antiviral host defense. We analyzed transcriptomes from Miwi2 heterozygous (Miwi2 ^+/tom) and deficient (Miwi2 ^tom/tom) mice following influenza A infection. During infection, Miwi2 deficiency was associated with reduced mitochondrial and ribosomal gene expression in M2MC cells, increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and ADP/ATP ratios in multiciliated cells, and enhanced viral clearance and recovery. Additional

SUBMITTER: Vasquez JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12002665 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature