COVID-19: fighting the invisible enemy with microRNAs

ABSTRACT

Introduction

The novel coronavirus (CoV) disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infection that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). It is believed that early reports of COVID-19 cases were noticed in December 2019 and soon after it became a global public health emergency. It is advised that COVID-19 transmits through human to human contact and in most cases, it remains asymptomatic. Several approaches are being utilized to control the outbreak of this fatal viral disease. microRNAs (miRNAs) are known signature therapeutic tool for the viral diseases; they are small non-coding RNAs that target the mRNAs to inhibit their post-transcriptional expression, therefore, impeding their functions, can serve as watchdogs or micromanagers in the cells.

Areas covered

This review work delineated COVID-19 and its association with SARS and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), the possible role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of COVID-19, and therapeutic potential of miRNAs and their effective delivery to treat COVID-19.

Expert opinion

This review highlighted the importance of various miRNAs and their potential role in fighting with this pandemic as therapeutic molecules utilizing nanotechnology.

KEYWORDS:

• SARS-CoV-2
• COVID-19
• miRNA
• nanotherapeutics
• nanoparticles

Article highlights

• The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused due to SARS-CoV-2 infection which has been declared a pandemic.

• The importance of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of this viral disease is summarized.

• Currently, there is no approved treatment or vaccine for COVID-19 and miRNAs can become a potential therapeutic tool.

• This work delineates the overall idea of developing nanoformulation(s) of the SARS-CoV-2-related miRNAs.

• Multifaceted targeting approaches are required for miRNA nanotherapy for effectively tackling SARS-CoV-2.

• The nanoparticles-based miRNAs could also be used in the form of nano-vaccines for the prevention from SARS-CoV-2.

Author contributions

N.C. and M.M.Y. prepared initial drafts of the manuscript. N.C., M.M.Y., M.J., and S.C.C. involved in discussion, editing, and review of the manuscript. M.M.Y. and S.C.C. conceptualized the idea.

Declaration of interest

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.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

The study was partially supported by the National Institute of Health of United States of America [R01 CA210192], [R01 CA206069], [R01 CA204552], Faculty Stat up fund from UTRGV (to M.M.Y., M.J., and S.C.C.), and Herb Kosten Foundation.