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SARS-CoV-2 Infection-Induced Alterations in ADAR Editing Patterns Differ Between Patients Who Developed Critical
Aiswarya Mukundan Nair1,2, Helen Piontkivska1,2,3
1Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|August 13, 2026
Summary
Adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADAR) expression and editing differ between critical and non-critical COVID-19 patients. These differences suggest ADAR
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
- Virology
Background:
- COVID-19 severity varies widely, potentially linked to interferon responses.
- Adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADAR) enzymes modulate immune responses and transcriptome diversity.
- Previous research noted altered ADARs in SARS-CoV-2 infection, but severity-specific differences were unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in ADAR expression and RNA editing patterns between critical and non-critical COVID-19 patients.
- To identify potential molecular markers for COVID-19 severity related to ADAR activity.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of whole-blood transcriptomes from critical and non-critical COVID-19 patients.
- Comparison of gene expression, focusing on ADAR family members and interferon-stimulated genes.
- Identification and characterization of severity-specific RNA editing events.
Main Results:
- Upregulation of ADAR1 and its isoform ADARp110 observed in critical COVID-19 patients.
- Differential expression of genes involved in neutrophil degranulation noted.
- Discovery of severity-specific RNA editing sites within genes related to signal transduction, metabolism, and inflammation.
Conclusions:
- ADAR expression and editing patterns differ significantly between critical and non-critical COVID-19 cases.
- ADAR editing may play a role in the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19.
- Identified editing sites could serve as biomarkers for COVID-19 severity.
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