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

James M Hill; Walter J Lukiw

doi:10.3389/fcimb.2022.887800

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

Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2022 Jun 16:12:887800. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.887800. eCollection 2022.

Authors

James M Hill^{1

2

3

4}, Walter J Lukiw^{1

2

5}

Affiliations

¹ Louisiana State University (LSU) Neuroscience Center, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, New Orleans, LA, United States.
² Department of Ophthalmology, LSU Health Science Center, New Orleans, LA, United States.
³ Department of Pharmacology, Louisiana State University (LSU) Health Science Center, New Orleans, LA, United States.
⁴ Department of Microbiology, Louisiana State University (LSU) Health Science Center, New Orleans, LA, United States.
⁵ Department Neurology, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, New Orleans, LA, United States.

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.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; hsa-miRNA-146a-5p; hsa-miRNA-15b-5p; messenger RNA (mRNA); microRNA (miRNA); single-stranded viral RNA (ssvRNA).

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

COVID-19*
Humans
Immune System
MicroRNAs* / genetics
SARS-CoV-2 / genetics

Substances

MicroRNAs