Clinically Informative Micrornas for SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Abstract

COVID-19 is a viral respiratory infection induced by the newly discovered coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. miRNA is an example of a strong and direct regulator of a gene’s transcriptional activity. The interaction between miRNAs and their target molecules is responsible for homeostasis. Virus-derived and host-derived miRNAs are involved in the activity of hiding from immune system cells, inducing the inflammatory reaction through interplay with associated genes, during SARS-COV-2 infection. Interest in miRNAs has raised the comprehension of the machinery and pathophysiology of SARS-COV-2 infection. In this review, the effects and biological roles of miRNAs on SARS-CoV-2 pathogenicity and life cycle are described. The therapeutic potential of miRNAs against SARS-CoV-2 infection are also mentioned.

Tweetable abstract

Small regulatory nucleic acids, miRNAs, may provide diagnostic and therapeutic potential for COVID-19.

Keywords::

• COVID-19
• diagnosis
• microRNA
• SARS-CoV-2
• transcriptional regulation
• viral infection

Author Contributions

S Ergün conceived, wrote and reviewed the manuscript. R Sankaranarayanan wrote the manuscript. S Ergün, R Sankaranarayanan and N Petrović participated in performing the literature review. R Sankaranarayanan and N Petrović were involved in reviewing the manuscript, agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work and provided final approval of the version to be submitted. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript. Data authentication is not applicable.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, Laboratory for Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, Department of Health and Environment, ‘VINČA’ Institute of Nuclear Sciences – National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade (no. 451-03-9/2021-14/ 200017) and Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia (no. 451-03-9/2021-14/200043). Moreover, the authors would like to thank Y Keleş for her support in drawing Figure 1.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Data sharing statement

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.