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COVID-19 Virulence in Aged Patients Might Be Impacted by the Host Cellular MicroRNAs Abundance/Profile

Sadanand Fulzele1,2, Bikash Sahay3, Ibrahim Yusufu1

  • 11Department of Medicine, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.

Aging and Disease
|June 4, 2020
PubMed

Insights

This study identified human microRNAs (miRNAs) that target the SARS-CoV-2 genome, finding that some crucial antiviral miRNAs decrease with age. This reduction may explain increased COVID-19 severity in older adults.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Genomics
  • Computational Biology

Background:

  • Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic with higher mortality in the elderly.
  • Effective treatments are lacking, necessitating innovative therapeutic strategies.
  • Host cellular microRNAs (miRNAs) can target viral genomes to exert antiviral effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To perform an in silico analysis of human miRNAs targeting SARS and COVID-19 genomes.
  • To correlate miRNA targeting with aging and underlying health conditions.
  • To identify potential therapeutic targets for COVID-19.

Main Methods:

  • In silico analysis of human miRNAs targeting SARS and COVID-19 genomes.
  • Comparative analysis of miRNA targets across different viral isolates.
  • Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway analysis.

Main Results:

  • Identified 848 common miRNAs targeting SARS and 873 targeting COVID-19.
  • Found 315 miRNAs unique to COVID-19 and 290 unique to SARS.
  • GO and KEGG analysis revealed COVID-19 targeting miRNAs are involved in age-related signaling pathways, which are impaired by decreased miRNA abundance in aging individuals.

Conclusions:

  • Human miRNAs play a role in targeting the SARS-CoV-2 genome.
  • Reduced abundance of specific miRNAs with aging may contribute to increased COVID-19 severity and mortality.
  • Further in vitro and in vivo studies are required to validate these findings and explore therapeutic potential.

Keywords:
CoronavirusagingmicroRNAs

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