Blood microRNAs correlate with plasma cytokines and clinical severity in patients infected with Influenza B and Rhinovirus/Enterovirus.

Abstract

Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are the leading causes of infectious disease morbidity and mortality in the world. Two of the most common etiological agents are Influenza B virus (IBV) and Human Rhinovirus (HRV). The IBV is responsible for about 25% of laboratory-documented influenza; meanwhile HRV is responsible for 33% to 50% of common cold cases in adults. Little is known about immunological biomarkers in the early stages of the infection caused by this RNA virus and their possible association with symptoms in those patients. The aim of this study was to identify miRNAs and their correlation with cytokines and clinical severity. Adult patients clinically diagnosed with ARI were sequentially recruited from Medical Service and University Hospital of Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon. The study was conducted with approval of the bioethics committee of the School of Medicine of the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon. Virus was detected by Luminex xTAG RVP kit, levels of nine miRNAs and twenty six plasma cytokines were analyzed by RT-qPCR and multiplex immunoassay, respectively. The severity of symptoms was daily monitored throughout seven days by surveys. The IBV-positive patients showed lower expression levels of miR-146, miR-16 and increased levels of CCL20 when compared with non-IBV. HRV/Enterovirus(EV)-positive patients showed lower expression levels of miR-132, miR-146 and miR-29. Expression levels of miRNAs and plasma cytokines correlated with symptoms severity in both patient groups. In conclusion, our findings suggest that blood miRNAs and plasma cytokines may regulate systemic immune response against IBV and HRV/EV and many of them may be associated with symptoms severity.