Reduced Presence of SARS-CoV-2 microRNA-like Small RNA in the Serum of Patients with Post-Acute Sequelae SARS-CoV-2 Infection
The mechanisms underlying post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) are a topic of debate. This study examined the presence of SARS-CoV-2 microRNA (miRNA)-like small RNAs in extracellular fluids and their potential link to PASC by using a quantitative stem-loop RT-PCR MiRNA assay. Initially...
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2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/1/126 |
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| author | Maria Alfreda Stincarelli Isabella Abbate Giulia Matusali Michele Tanturli Marta Camici Rosaria Arvia Elisabetta Lazzari Eleonora Cimini Alessandra Vergori Fabrizio Maggi Simone Giannecchini |
| author_facet | Maria Alfreda Stincarelli Isabella Abbate Giulia Matusali Michele Tanturli Marta Camici Rosaria Arvia Elisabetta Lazzari Eleonora Cimini Alessandra Vergori Fabrizio Maggi Simone Giannecchini |
| author_sort | Maria Alfreda Stincarelli |
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| description | The mechanisms underlying post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) are a topic of debate. This study examined the presence of SARS-CoV-2 microRNA (miRNA)-like small RNAs in extracellular fluids and their potential link to PASC by using a quantitative stem-loop RT-PCR MiRNA assay. Initially, it was demonstrated that three previously identified SARS-CoV-2 miRNA-like small RNAs, specifically svRNA 1 and 2 and miR-07a, were significantly expressed in infected cells in vitro and released into the supernatant following infection by different SARS-CoV-2 variants. Then, the expression of three SARS-CoV-2 small RNAs was studied in both nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) and sera from 24 patients at their initial COVID-19 diagnosis (T0) and in sera collected 91 to 193 days post-diagnosis (T1). Notably, 11 out of 24 patients (46%) reported PASC consequences. All NPS samples showed SARS-CoV-2 small RNA expression with an altered cytokine network during acute infection, but it did not correlate with PASC outcomes. Serum samples had similar small RNA statuses, though PASC patients, notably at T1, but not at T0, displayed reduced overall positivity compared to those without PASC. The host target expression of SARS-CoV-2 small RNAs was not significantly different between groups. This suggests a need for further research into SARS-CoV-2 small RNA and its role in viral behavior and PASC consequences. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4c89013a82404f149a0603a1117ce236 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj-art-4c89013a82404f149a0603a1117ce2362025-01-24T13:42:45ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-01-0113112610.3390/microorganisms13010126Reduced Presence of SARS-CoV-2 microRNA-like Small RNA in the Serum of Patients with Post-Acute Sequelae SARS-CoV-2 InfectionMaria Alfreda Stincarelli0Isabella Abbate1Giulia Matusali2Michele Tanturli3Marta Camici4Rosaria Arvia5Elisabetta Lazzari6Eleonora Cimini7Alessandra Vergori8Fabrizio Maggi9Simone Giannecchini10Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 48, 50134 Florence, ItalyLaboratory of Virology and Biosafety Laboratories, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani—IRCCS, 00149 Rome, ItalyLaboratory of Virology and Biosafety Laboratories, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani—IRCCS, 00149 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence, 50121 Florence, ItalyClinical Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani—IRCCS, 00149 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 48, 50134 Florence, ItalyLaboratory of Virology and Biosafety Laboratories, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani—IRCCS, 00149 Rome, ItalyCellular Immunology and Pharmacology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani—IRCCS, 00149 Rome, ItalyClinical Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani—IRCCS, 00149 Rome, ItalyLaboratory of Virology and Biosafety Laboratories, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani—IRCCS, 00149 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 48, 50134 Florence, ItalyThe mechanisms underlying post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) are a topic of debate. This study examined the presence of SARS-CoV-2 microRNA (miRNA)-like small RNAs in extracellular fluids and their potential link to PASC by using a quantitative stem-loop RT-PCR MiRNA assay. Initially, it was demonstrated that three previously identified SARS-CoV-2 miRNA-like small RNAs, specifically svRNA 1 and 2 and miR-07a, were significantly expressed in infected cells in vitro and released into the supernatant following infection by different SARS-CoV-2 variants. Then, the expression of three SARS-CoV-2 small RNAs was studied in both nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) and sera from 24 patients at their initial COVID-19 diagnosis (T0) and in sera collected 91 to 193 days post-diagnosis (T1). Notably, 11 out of 24 patients (46%) reported PASC consequences. All NPS samples showed SARS-CoV-2 small RNA expression with an altered cytokine network during acute infection, but it did not correlate with PASC outcomes. Serum samples had similar small RNA statuses, though PASC patients, notably at T1, but not at T0, displayed reduced overall positivity compared to those without PASC. The host target expression of SARS-CoV-2 small RNAs was not significantly different between groups. This suggests a need for further research into SARS-CoV-2 small RNA and its role in viral behavior and PASC consequences.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/1/126SARS-CoV-2small RNAmicroRNAPASCextracellular vesicles |
| spellingShingle | Maria Alfreda Stincarelli Isabella Abbate Giulia Matusali Michele Tanturli Marta Camici Rosaria Arvia Elisabetta Lazzari Eleonora Cimini Alessandra Vergori Fabrizio Maggi Simone Giannecchini Reduced Presence of SARS-CoV-2 microRNA-like Small RNA in the Serum of Patients with Post-Acute Sequelae SARS-CoV-2 Infection Microorganisms SARS-CoV-2 small RNA microRNA PASC extracellular vesicles |
| title | Reduced Presence of SARS-CoV-2 microRNA-like Small RNA in the Serum of Patients with Post-Acute Sequelae SARS-CoV-2 Infection |
| title_full | Reduced Presence of SARS-CoV-2 microRNA-like Small RNA in the Serum of Patients with Post-Acute Sequelae SARS-CoV-2 Infection |
| title_fullStr | Reduced Presence of SARS-CoV-2 microRNA-like Small RNA in the Serum of Patients with Post-Acute Sequelae SARS-CoV-2 Infection |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reduced Presence of SARS-CoV-2 microRNA-like Small RNA in the Serum of Patients with Post-Acute Sequelae SARS-CoV-2 Infection |
| title_short | Reduced Presence of SARS-CoV-2 microRNA-like Small RNA in the Serum of Patients with Post-Acute Sequelae SARS-CoV-2 Infection |
| title_sort | reduced presence of sars cov 2 microrna like small rna in the serum of patients with post acute sequelae sars cov 2 infection |
| topic | SARS-CoV-2 small RNA microRNA PASC extracellular vesicles |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/1/126 |
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