Leishmania regulates host macrophage miRNAs expression by engaging transcription factor c-Myc.

Parasites of Leishmania genus have developed sophisticated strategies allowing them to deactivate their host macrophage to promote their survival. It has become clear that miRNAs play important roles in shaping innate and adaptive immune responses toward pathogens. It is not surprising that several pathogens including Leishmania have evolved the ability to regulate host macrophage miRNA expression in order to manipulate host cell phenotypes to their advantage. However, very little is known about the mechanisms used by intracellular pathogens to drive changes in host cell miRNA abundance. In this review, Leishmania exploitation of macrophage transcription factor c-Myc as a critical proxy virulence factor to regulate abundance of macrophage miRNAs influencing macrophage physiology to promote its survival will be discussed.