COVID-19 Virus Produces microRNA That Can Have Impacts on Infected Cells

By Wiley June 22, 2021

New research published in the Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine indicates that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, produces microRNAs that can affect infected cells. MicroRNAs are genetic molecules that prevent the production of certain proteins by binding to and destroying messenger RNAs that code for those proteins.

Researchers found that the virus’s microRNAs affect individuals’ respiratory system, immune response and vitamin D pathways. Understanding these effects may provide new insights regarding SARS-CoV-2 infection, pathogenesis and treatment.

“Our finding highlighted the involvement of genes in three critical molecular pathways and may help develop novel therapeutic targets associated with SARS-CoV-2,” the authors wrote.

Reference: “Interplay between SARS-CoV-2-derived miRNAs, immune system, vitamin D pathway, and respiratory system” by Elham Karimi, Hanieh Azari, Maryam Yari, Ahmad Tahmasebi, Mehdi Hassani Azad, and Pegah Mousavi, June 22, 2021, Journal of Cellular and molecular medicine.
DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16694