miRNAs in Neurological Manifestation in Patients Co-Infected with SARS-CoV-2 and Herpesvírus 6 (HHV-6)

Abstract

Human herpesviruses (HHVs) can establish latency and be reactivated, also are neurotropic viruses that can trigger neurological disorders. HHV-6 is a herpesvirus that is associated with neurological disorders. Studies have reported the detection of HHV-6 in patients with COVID-19 and neurological manifestations. However, specific diagnoses of the neurological disorders caused by these viruses tend to be invasive or difficult to interpret. This study aimed to establish a relationship between miRNA and neurological manifestations in patients co-infected with COVID-19 and HHV-6 and evaluate miRNAs as potential biomarkers. Serum samples from COVID-19 patients in the three cohorts were analyzed. miRNA analysis by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) revealed miRNAs associated with neuroinflammation were highly expressed in patients with neurological disorders and HHV-6 detection. When compared with the group of patients without detection of HHVs DNA and without neurological alterations, the group with detection of HHV-6 DNA and neurological alteration, displayed significant differences in the expression of mir-21, mir-146a, miR-155 and miR-let-7b (p < 0.01). Our results reinforce the involvement of miRNAs in neurological disorders and provide insights into their use as biomarkers for neurological disorders triggered by HHV-6. Furthermore, understanding the expression of miRNAs may contribute to therapeutic strategies.

miRNAs: Targets to Investigate Herpesvirus Infection Associated with Neurological Disorders

“…Furthermore, the down-regulation of miR-let-7b-5p in EBV-infected B cells compared to that in uninfected B cells provides evidence that EBV infection down-regulates miR-let-7b-5p, including MS-risk miRNAs, which may contribute to MS pathogenesis via direct or indirect interaction with risk genes [91]. In a study conducted by our group, we found a significant increase in miR-let-7b-5p expression in a group of patients with HHV-6 infection and neurological manifestations, which encouraged studies investigating the role of this miRNA in neurological complications caused by HHV-6 [16].…”

“…Therefore, investigations into biomarkers for neurological diseases are growing [13][14][15]. Recently, our group identified differentially expressed mi-croRNAs (miRNAs) in a cohort of patients with COVID-19, who had HHV-6 detection and neurological symptoms [16].…”

COVID-19 Pandemic: Therapeutic Strategies and Vaccines

“…However, diagnosing these neurological disorders caused by the viruses can be invasive and challenging. The study by Carneiro et al aimed to establish a connection between microRNAs (miRNA) and neurological symptoms in patients co-infected with COVID-19 and HHV-6, as well as to explore the potential of miRNAs as biomarkers [ 40 ]. The study analyzed serum samples from three groups of COVID-19 patients.…”