The potential use of microRNAs as a therapeutic strategy for SARS-CoV-2 infection

• Published in: Archives of virology Vol. 166; no. 10; pp. 2649 - 2672
• Main Authors: Hu, Jiulue, Stojanović, Jelena, Yasamineh, Saman, Yasamineh, Pooneh, Karuppannan, Sathish Kumar, Hussain Dowlath, Mohammed Junaid, Serati-Nouri, Hamed
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vienna Springer Vienna 01-10-2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - metabolism; COVID-19 - therapy; COVID-19 - virology; Drug Delivery Systems; Drug Design; Exosomes - metabolism; Genome, Viral; Genomes; Humans; Immunogenicity; Infections; Infectious Diseases; Medical Microbiology; MicroRNAs; MicroRNAs - administration & dosage; MicroRNAs - metabolism; miRNA; Review; SARS-CoV-2 - physiology; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Toxicity; Viral infections; Viral Proteins - metabolism; Virology; Virus Replication
• ISSN: 0304-8608; 1432-8798
• DOI: 10.1007/s00705-021-05152-5

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). To date, there is no effective therapeutic approach for treating SARS-CoV-2 infections. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been recognized to target the viral genome directly or indirectly, thereby inhibiting viral replication. Several studies have demonstrated that host miRNAs target different sites in SARS-CoV-2 RNA and constrain the production of essential viral proteins. Furthermore, miRNAs have lower toxicity, are more immunogenic, and are more diverse than protein-based and even plasmid-DNA-based therapeutic agents. In this review, we emphasize the role of miRNAs in viral infection and their potential use as therapeutic agents against COVID-19 disease. The potential of novel miRNA delivery strategies, especially EDV™ nanocells, for targeting lung tissue for treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection is also discussed.