In silico identification of microRNAs targeting the PPARα/γ: promising therapeutics for SARS-CoV‑2 infection

Darin Mansor Mathkor; Hani Faidah; Naif A Jalal; Fadi S I Qashqari; Shafiul Haque; Farkad Bantun

doi:10.1080/02648725.2022.2163867

In silico identification of microRNAs targeting the PPARα/γ: promising therapeutics for SARS-CoV‑2 infection

Biotechnol Genet Eng Rev. 2023 Jan 28:1-12. doi: 10.1080/02648725.2022.2163867. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Darin Mansor Mathkor¹, Hani Faidah², Naif A Jalal², Fadi S I Qashqari², Shafiul Haque^{1

3

4}, Farkad Bantun²

Affiliations

¹ Research and Scientific Studies Unit, College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
² Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
³ Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon.
⁴ Centre of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates.

PMID: 36708330
DOI: 10.1080/02648725.2022.2163867

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 lifecycle is dependent on the host metabolism machinery. It upregulates the PPARα and PPARγ genes in lipid metabolism, which supports the essential viral replication complex including lipid rafts and palmitoylation of viral protein. The use of PPAR ligands in SARS-CoV-2 infection may have positive effects by preventing cytokine storm and the ensuing inflammatory cascade. The inhibition of PPARα and PPARγ genes may alter the metabolism and may disrupt the lifecycle of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 progression. In the present work, we have identified possible miRNAs targeting PPARα and PPARγ in search of modulators of PPARα and PPARγ genes expression. The identified miRNAs could possibly be viewed as new therapeutic targets against COVID-19 infection.

Keywords: PPARα; PPARγ; SARS-CoV-2; anti-viral; miRNA.