microRNA expression in blood of dengue patients

Abstract

Background Dengue is the most common arboviral illness worldwide. While most infected patients recover, a proportion of them develop severe complications or fatality. Nevertheless, the pathophysiological mechanisms which distinguish the disease severity and associated complications are not clearly understood. We studied blood profiles of dengue patients in order to identify microRNAs that could play a role in these pathophysiological mechanisms. Methods Blood samples from 26 dengue-infected patients were collected within 0–14 days of infection. Together with samples obtained from six healthy individuals, microRNA profiles were generated to identify significantly altered microRNAs upon dengue infection. Profiles of patients with influenza were also used to determine the disease specificity of these altered microRNAs. Their discriminative power to distinguish dengue from influenza was then tested statistically. Results Several significantly altered microRNAs were identified in patients with dengue. Twelve microRNAs were specifically altered upon acute dengue whereas 14 microRNAs exhibited similar expression between dengue and influenza. Seventeen microRNAs which could potentially distinguish dengue-related complications were also identified. Expression of miR-24-1-5p, miR-512-5p and miR-4640-3p distinguished mild dengue from those exhibiting liver complications whereas miR-383 was significantly upregulated in mild dengue compared to those diagnosed as severe dengue with fluid accumulation. Conclusions We identified two panels of microRNAs – one specific for dengue and the other common to dengue and influenza. We also report on the differentially expressed microRNAs in patients with mild versus severe dengue, which could be the basis for the complications seen in them.

Dysregulated Serum MiRNA Profile and Promising Biomarkers in Dengue-infected Patients

“…For example, miR-146a facilitates replication of DENV-2 in primary human monocytes and THP-1 cells upon DENV infection by targeting TRAF6 and inhibiting IFN-beta production 19 . The expression of miR-24-1-5p, miR-512-5p, and miR-4640-3p in blood is recently reported to be beneficial in distinguishing mild dengue from those exhibiting liver complications 20 . This characteristic indicates that miRNAs may serve as biomarkers for dengue infection.…”

Avances en la investigación del virus dengue en Colombia: papel de los microARNs celulares en la respuesta anti-dengue virus

“…Actualmente existen muy pocos estudios que evalúen la expresión/regulación de la expresión de miR en pacientes con dengue. Uno de ellos describe el patrón de expresión de miR en sangre de pacientes con dengue y según dicho estudio, 12 miR cambia significativamente el patrón de expresión en pacientes con dengue agudo y 17 miR fueron potencialmente asociados con complicaciones asociadas con dengue 21 . Igualmente se ha reportado cambios muy importantes en la expresión de miR en leucocitos mononucleares de sangre periférica de individuos con dengue 22 .…”

Vitamin D-Regulated MicroRNAs: Are They Protective Factors against Dengue Virus Infection?

“…Although little is known regarding the variations in miR expression in DENV-infected individuals, a recent study showed the expression profile of the miRs in blood samples of DEN-infected patients. The authors report 12 miRs that were specifically altered upon acute dengue and 17 miRs that could potentially be associated with specific dengue-related complications [ 164 ]. In addition, another profiling study reported abundance changes in the expression of some miRs in DENV-infected peripheral blood monocytes.…”