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Published on: September 11, 2020
Modes of action and diagnostic value of miRNAs in sepsis
Nikolaos Antonakos1, Charly Gilbert1, Charlotte Théroude1
1Infectious Diseases Service, Department of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Sepsis is a clinical syndrome defined as a dysregulated host response to infection resulting in life-threatening organ dysfunction. Sepsis is a major public health concern associated with one in five deaths worldwide. Sepsis is characterized by unbalanced inflammation and profound and sustained immunosuppression, increasing patient susceptibility to secondary infections and mortality. microRNAs (miRNAs) play a central role in the control of many biological processes, and deregulation of their expression has been linked to the development of oncological, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases. In this review, we discuss the role of miRNAs in sepsis pathophysiology. Overall, miRNAs are seen as promising biomarkers, and it has been proposed to develop miRNA-based therapies for sepsis. Yet, the picture is not so straightforward because of the versatile and dynamic features of miRNAs. Clearly, more research is needed to clarify the expression and role of miRNAs in sepsis, and to promote the use of miRNAs for sepsis management.
Insights
Sepsis, a life-threatening condition, involves immune system imbalance. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) show potential as sepsis biomarkers and therapeutic targets, but further research is crucial for their clinical application.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Sepsis is a global health crisis defined by a dysregulated host response to infection, leading to organ dysfunction and high mortality.
- It involves a complex interplay of excessive inflammation and immunosuppression, increasing susceptibility to secondary infections.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNAs, regulate gene expression and are implicated in various diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of microRNA (miRNA) involvement in sepsis pathophysiology.
- To explore the potential of miRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for sepsis management.
- To highlight the challenges and future research directions in the field of miRNAs and sepsis.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies investigating miRNA expression and function in sepsis.
- Analysis of current research on miRNA-based diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for sepsis.
- Synthesis of findings regarding the complex role of miRNAs in the inflammatory and immunosuppressive phases of sepsis.
Main Results:
- miRNA dysregulation is a key feature in sepsis, influencing both inflammatory and immunosuppressive responses.
- miRNAs demonstrate potential as promising biomarkers for early sepsis detection and prognosis.
- miRNA-based therapies are being explored, but their efficacy and safety require extensive validation.
Conclusions:
- MicroRNAs play a critical role in sepsis pathogenesis, offering potential for novel diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
- The dynamic and versatile nature of miRNAs presents challenges for their straightforward clinical application in sepsis.
- Further research is essential to fully elucidate miRNA functions in sepsis and optimize their use in patient management.
