Ensembl miRNA host genes

[ea11]

tmiI have been using a GTF file from Ensembl to get count table from HTSeq for an RNAseq experiment. Tables were inputted into DESeq2 and the resulting DE genes include microRNA host genes (e.g. mir34HG).

Does anyone know what these host genes are? Are they equivalent to pre-miRNAs or are they seperate transcripts?

I am struggling to get information about what these host genes are. I understand they they are where the miRNAs originate (e.g. in the intron of a gene, etc), but they are forming separate transcripts.

Any help on this would be much appreciated
Thanks

[GenoMax]

Someone more knowledgeable is bound to come along but in the mean time take a look at this paper: http://genome.cshlp.org/content/14/10a/1902.full

[ea11]

Someone more knowledgeable is bound to come along but in the mean time take a look at this paper: http://genome.cshlp.org/content/14/10a/1902.full

Thanks GenoMax, I'll have a look at the paper while I wait to see if anyone else know more about them.