Title:Tiny Regulators in Viral Infection: Carving SARS-CoV-2 by miRNAs
Volume: 11
Issue: 3
Author(s): Natalia Martínez-Acuña*, Sonia Amelia Lozano-Sepúlveda, María del Carmen Martínez-Guzmán and Ana María Rivas-Estilla
Affiliation:
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon,
Monterrey 64460, Mexico
Keywords:
MicroRNA, viral-microRNA, RNA viruses, SARS-CoV-2, v-miRNAs features, cytokine, storm.
Abstract: Viruses are microscopic biological entities that can cause diseases. Viruses require a
host cell to replicate and generate progeny. Once inside, viruses hijack the main cellular machinery
for their benefit, disrupting cell functions and causing detrimental effects on cell physiology.
MicroRNAs are short, non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression. Recent works have shown
that cell-miRNAs can modulate antiviral defense during viral infection, and viruses can disrupt
these existing miRNA networks. Furthermore, multiple RNA viruses encode their own miRNAs
to evade the host immune response. In this review, we analyze the activities of both, miRNAs as
pro-viral modulators and miRNAs as anti-viral agents and their relationship with the development
of the disease.
