Evaluation of miR-200c-3p and miR-421-5p levels during immune responses in the admitted and recovered COVID-19 subjects

• Published in: Infection, genetics and evolution Vol. 98; p. 105207
• Main Authors: Abdolahi, Shahrokh, Hosseini, Maryam, Rezaei, Ramazan, Mohebbi, Seyed Reza, Rostami-Nejad, Mohammad, Mojarad, Ehsan Nazemalhosseini, Mirjalali, Hamed, Yadegar, Abbas, Asadzadeh Aghdaei, Hamid, Zali, Mohamad Reza, Baghaei, Kaveh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.03.2022; The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V
• Subjects: ACE-2; Aged; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 - genetics; COVID-19; COVID-19 - genetics; COVID-19 - immunology; COVID-19 infection; evolution; Female; Gene Expression Regulation; genes; Healthy Volunteers; hemostasis; Humans; IL-6; Immunity - genetics; infection; inflammation; interleukin-6; Iran; Male; microRNA; MicroRNAs - genetics; Middle Aged; miR-200c-3p; miR-421-5p; peptidyl-dipeptidase A; quantitative polymerase chain reaction; SARS-CoV-2 - genetics; SARS-CoV-2 - immunology; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Iran; COVID-19; miR-200c-3p; ACE-2; IL-6; miR-421-5p
• DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2022.105207
• ISSN: 1567-1348; 1567-7257

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) acts as a key receptor for the spike of SARS-CoV-2. Two main microRNAs (miRs), miR-200c-3p and miR-421-5p, are considered to modulate the expression of ACE2 gene and alterations in the expression of these miRNAs may influence the outcomes of COVID-19 infection. Accordingly, we examined whether miRNAs directing ACE2 expression altered in the SARS-CoV-2 infection. 30 patients with COVID-19 included in the study. At the time of admission and discharge, the expression of miR-200c-3p and miR-421-5p, inflammatory cytokine IL-6, and regulatory T cells' expression profiles (CD4, CD25, and Foxp3) were examined using quantitative real-time PCR method. At the time of admission, the expression levels of miR-200c-3p and miR-421-5p as well as CD4, CD25, and Foxp3 significantly decreased while IL-6 expression notably enhanced. However, by the time of discharge, the expression levels of the genes were opposite to the time of admission. Moreover, Pearson correlation analysis indicated that IL-6 expression negatively correlated with Foxp3 and miR-200c-3p expressions despite miR-421-5p and miR-200c-3p positively correlated at admission time. By manipulating miR-200c-3p and miR-421-5p expressions and controlling the ACE2 level, it is plausible to modulate the inflammation by reducing IL-6 and maintenance tolerance hemostasis during COVID-19 infection. •miRNAs could serve as a novel prognostic marker for SARS-CoV-2 infection.•hsa-miR-200c-3p directly targets ACE2 mRNA leading to decreased ACE2 expression.•miR-421-5p cause a balance between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory processes.•Assessing the levels of miRNA 200c and 451-5p could be important for coronavirus COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) patients.