Assessing the Expression Levels of miR-1307-3p and miR-3613-5p in COVID-19 Patients

Abstract

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate the immune response to infectious diseases. They exhibit alterations during the early stages of disease development, even before the pathogen is detectable. Objectives: The objective of this study was to analyze the expression levels of miR-1307-3p and miR-3613-5p at the onset of COVID-19, aiming to identify miRNAs that could function as early predictive biomarkers. Methods: This case-control study analyzed the expression levels of miR-1307-3p and miR-3613-5p at the onset of COVID-19 to identify early predictive biomarkers. Plasma miRNAs from 26 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the ICU ward were sequenced and compared to a healthy control group of 26 individuals. Additionally, plasma biomarkers associated with the immune system were evaluated. Total RNA was extracted using an RNX solution and subjected to cDNA synthesis with a specific loop sequence for each miRNA. The samples were subsequently analyzed using relative real-time PCR. Results: RT-qPCR analysis revealed a significant reduction in the detection rate of miR-1307-3p (P < 0.0001) in the patient group compared to the control group. Conversely, no significant differences were observed in the levels of miR-3613-5p between the patient and control groups. Conclusions: miR-1307-3p shows potential as a biomarker for the diagnosis of COVID-19.