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Altered Plasma microRNA Signature in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients Requiring Oxygen Support
Sandra Franco1, Lourdes Mateu2, Raquel Pluvinet3
1IrsiCaixa, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, 08916 Badalona, Spain.
Microorganisms
|March 28, 2024
Summary
This study identified 190 microRNAs (miRNAs) significantly altered in hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 patients, with top candidates unequivocally diagnosing infection. Specific miRNA profiles also correlate with COVID-19 prognosis in patients needing oxygen therapy.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Genomics
- Virology
Background:
- SARS-CoV-2 infection, the cause of COVID-19, presents a significant global health challenge.
- Identifying reliable biomarkers for infection diagnosis and disease progression is crucial for effective patient management.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that play regulatory roles and have emerged as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discover microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers for SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosis.
- To investigate miRNA expression profiles associated with COVID-19 disease progression and severity.
- To establish a specific miRNA signature for SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Main Methods:
- Small RNA deep sequencing was performed on plasma samples from 40 hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 patients and 21 healthy controls.
- Differential expression analysis was conducted to identify significantly altered miRNAs (fold change > 1.2, adjusted p < 0.05).
- miRNA expression was compared between patients with different oxygen therapy requirements to assess prognostic value.
Main Results:
- A total of 1218 different miRNAs were identified.
- 190 miRNAs showed significantly altered expression in SARS-CoV-2 patients compared to healthy controls.
- The top 10 differentially expressed miRNAs, including miR-122-5p and let-7b-5p, demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy for SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- No significant differences in standard blood cell counts or biochemical parameters were observed across different oxygen therapy groups.
- However, 31 miRNAs were significantly deregulated when comparing patients on high-flow versus low-flow oxygen therapy.
Conclusions:
- SARS-CoV-2 infection induces a distinct miRNA signature in the plasma of hospitalized patients.
- Specific miRNA profiles can serve as reliable biomarkers for diagnosing SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- Certain miRNA signatures are associated with the prognosis of COVID-19, particularly in patients requiring oxygen support.
