microRNA, the Innate-Immune System and SARS-CoV-2.

Abstract

The single-stranded viral RNA (ssvRNA) known as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19 can be effectively inactivated by a number of natural ribonucleic acid-based host cell defenses. One of the most important of these defenses includes the actions of a class of small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) known as microRNAs (miRNAs). Via base-pair complementarity miRNAs are capable of specifically targeting ssvRNA sequences such as SARS-CoV-2 promoting its inactivation and neutralization. RNA-sequencing and bioinformatics analysis indicate that multiple naturally-occurring human miRNAs have extensive complementarity to the SARS-CoV-2 ssvRNA genome. Since miRNA abundance, speciation, and complexity vary significantly amongst human individuals, this may in part explain the variability in the innate-immune and pathophysiological response of different individuals to SARS-CoV-2 and overall susceptibility to ssvRNA-mediated viral infection.

• Authors: James M Hill, Walter J Lukiw
• Journal: Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology (Front Cell Infect Microbiol) Vol. 12 Pg. 887800 ( 2022) ISSN: 2235-2988 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 35782132 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2022 Hill and Lukiw.

Chemical References

• MicroRNAs

Topics

• COVID-19
• Humans
• Immune System
• MicroRNAs (genetics)
• SARS-CoV-2 (genetics)