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Updated: Jun 12, 2025

Direct Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy of Extracellular Vesicles in Three Dimensions
Published on: August 26, 2021
COVID-19 extracellular vesicles display heterogeneity based on viral and host RNA expression: implications for host
Esmeralda Juárez1, Joel A Vázquez-Pérez2, Laura E Carreto-Binaghi3
1Department of Microbiology, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas, Calzada de Tlalpan 4502, 14080 Mexico City, Mexico.
Abstract:
Viral RNA and miRNAs released by immune cells contribute to inflammation in COVID-19 patients. Here, we investigated the role of SARS-CoV2 RNA and host miRNAs carried within extracellular vesicles (EVs) in modulating inflammation. EVs were classified as positive or negative depending on their viral RNA cargo. To assess the function of viral RNA, EVs, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were used to stimulate whole blood samples from healthy subjects, and the secretion of 27 serum analytes was measured. EVs alone did not induce cytokines, chemokines, or growth factors. However, under LPS stimulation, (SARS-CoV2+) EVs increased IL-12 and decreased IL-13 secretion, while (SARS-CoV2-) EVs increased MIP-1α and IL-1β secretion. Host miR-19a-3p, -192-5p, -let-7c-5p, and -92b-3a were differentially expressed in association with viral RNA. EVs from COVID-19 patients exhibited differences in viral RNA and miRNA expression profiles that modulate LPS responses. This knowledge sheds light on the immunopathology of COVID-19.
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