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MicroRNAs in long COVID: roles, diagnostic biomarker potential and detection
Naomi-Eunicia Paval1,2, Olga Adriana Căliman-Sturdza3, Andrei Lobiuc4
1Doctoral School, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babes", 300041, Timisoara, Romania.
Abstract:
Long COVID or Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (PASC), marked by persistent symptoms lasting weeks to months after acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, affects multiple organ systems including the respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, gastrointestinal, and renal systems. These prolonged effects stem from chronic inflammation, immune dysregulation, and direct viral injury. MicroRNAs (miRNAs)-small non-coding RNAs involved in gene regulation-play a pivotal role in this process by modulating immune responses, inflammation, and cellular stress. Altered miRNA expression patterns during and after infection contribute to the pathogenesis of Long COVID. While conventional miRNA detection techniques have been valuable, they face limitations in sensitivity, throughput, and detecting RNA modifications. This review highlights Oxford Nanopore Sequencing (ONS) as a promising alternative, offering real-time, long-read, amplification-free RNA sequencing that preserves native modifications. ONS enables direct sequencing of full-length miRNAs and their precursors, providing novel insights into miRNA processing and regulatory roles. Despite current challenges with short-read accuracy, ongoing technical advances are improving ONS performance. Its integration in miRNA profiling holds significant potential for uncovering novel regulatory interactions and advancing clinical biomarker discovery in Long COVID and other conditions.
Insights
Long COVID, or Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (PASC), involves persistent symptoms affecting multiple organ systems. Oxford Nanopore Sequencing offers a promising method for studying microRNAs involved in PASC pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Research
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Long COVID (Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection - PASC) presents persistent symptoms impacting multiple organ systems.
- Pathogenesis involves chronic inflammation, immune dysregulation, and direct viral injury, with microRNAs (miRNAs) playing a key regulatory role.
- Conventional miRNA detection methods have limitations in sensitivity, throughput, and preserving native RNA modifications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of microRNAs in Long COVID pathogenesis.
- To highlight Oxford Nanopore Sequencing (ONS) as an advanced technique for miRNA profiling in Long COVID.
- To discuss the potential of ONS for discovering novel regulatory interactions and biomarkers.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on Long COVID, miRNA biology, and sequencing technologies.
- Focus on the capabilities of Oxford Nanopore Sequencing (ONS) for direct, real-time, amplification-free RNA sequencing.
- Discussion of ONS advantages for analyzing full-length miRNAs and their precursors, including native modifications.
Main Results:
- Altered miRNA expression is implicated in the pathogenesis of Long COVID.
- ONS provides a novel approach for comprehensive miRNA analysis, overcoming limitations of conventional methods.
- ONS enables the study of miRNA processing and regulatory functions with preserved native modifications.
Conclusions:
- MicroRNAs are critical players in the complex mechanisms underlying Long COVID.
- Oxford Nanopore Sequencing presents a powerful tool for advancing miRNA research in Long COVID.
- ONS has the potential to accelerate the discovery of diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for Long COVID.
