PIWIL4 knockdown alters gene expression in RSV-infected immortalized small airway epithelial cells

PIWIL4, a member of the PIWI protein family known to interact with PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), was found to be induced by RSV infection in airway epithelial cells. To investigate the role of PIWIL4 in the transcriptional response to RSV, immortalized small airway epithelial (iSAE) cells were transfected with either a non-targeting or a PIWIL4-targeting siRNA and then left uninfected or infected with RSV for 15 hours.

Gene expression was profiled using the Agilent Whole Human Genome Oligo Microarray (4x44K) to identify genes differentially expressed upon PIWIL4 knockdown under basal and RSV-infected conditions. 4 samples, one array per condition (no biological replicate arrays; RNA from three pooled technical replicate wells per condition was hybridized to a single array). 2x2 factorial design: siRNA treatment (non-targeting control vs. PIWIL4-targeting) x infection status (uninfected control vs. RSV Long strain infection, MOI 5, 15 hours post-infection) in immortalized human small airway epithelial (iSAE) cells.