Saliva microRNA Profile in Children with and without Severe SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Steven D. Hicks; Dongxiao Zhu; Rhea Sullivan; Nirupama Kannikeswaran; Kathleen Meert; Wei Chen; Srinivasan Suresh; Usha Sethuraman

doi:10.3390/ijms24098175

International Journal of Molecular Sciences (May 2023)

Saliva microRNA Profile in Children with and without Severe SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Steven D. Hicks,
Dongxiao Zhu,
Rhea Sullivan,
Nirupama Kannikeswaran,
Kathleen Meert,
Wei Chen,
Srinivasan Suresh,
Usha Sethuraman

Affiliations

Steven D. Hicks: Department of Pediatrics, Pennsylvania State University Medical Center, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
Dongxiao Zhu: Department of Computer Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
Rhea Sullivan: Department of Pediatrics, Pennsylvania State University Medical Center, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
Nirupama Kannikeswaran: Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Central Michigan University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
Kathleen Meert: Division of Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Central Michigan University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
Wei Chen: Population Science, Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
Srinivasan Suresh: Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
Usha Sethuraman: Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Central Michigan University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24098175
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 24, no. 9
p. 8175

Abstract

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Severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may impair immune modulating host microRNAs, causing severe disease. Our objectives were to determine the salivary miRNA profile in children with SARS-CoV-2 infection at presentation and compare the expression in those with and without severe outcomes. Children p-value < 0.05). The majority (31/43) were downregulated in severe cases. The largest between-group differences involved miR-4495, miR-296-5p, miR-548ao-3p and miR-1273c. These microRNAs displayed enrichment for 32 gene ontology pathways including viral processing and transforming growth factor beta and Fc-gamma receptor signaling. In conclusion, salivary miRNA levels are perturbed in children with severe COVID-19, with the majority of miRNAs being down regulated. Further studies are required to validate and determine the utility of salivary miRNAs as biomarkers of severe COVID-19.

Published in International Journal of Molecular Sciences

ISSN: 1661-6596 (Print); 1422-0067 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Biology (General); Science: Chemistry
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijms

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