Skip to main content

Table 3 Overlapping miRNAs with opposite regulation between COVID-19 and IPF

From: Systematic review of overlapping microRNA patterns in COVID-19 and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

miRNA

Disease

Study

Regulation

Biological material

Subject

Method

Outcome summary

miR-142-3p

COVID-19

Z Chen et al. [67]

↓

PBMCs

COVID-19 = 17, healthy controls = 6

Small-RNA sequencing

miR-340–3p, miR-652–3p, miR-4772–5p, miR-192–5p may be biomarkers that predict changes in mild SARS-CoV-2 infection. Some molecules, including hsa-miR-1291, were considered potential targets to predict the emergence of severe symptoms in SARS-CoV-2 infection

H Tang et al. [77]

↓

Whole blood

COVID-19:

severe (n = 6) vs

moderate (n = 6)

Small-RNA sequencing

miR-146a-5p, miR-21-5p, miR-142-3p, and miR-15b-5p are potential contributors to the disease pathogenesis, possibly serving as biomarkers of severe COVID-19

IPF

J Guiot et al. [33]

↑

↑

Sputum-derived exosomes

Plasma-derived exosomes

IPF = 19, healthy controls = 23

IPF = 14, healthy controls = 14

qPCR

Macrophage-derived exosomes may fight against pulmonary fibrosis progression via the delivery of antifibrotic miR-142–3 p to alveolar epithelial cells and lung fibroblasts

M-S Njock et al. [29]

↑

Sputum-derived exosomes

IPF = 16, healthy controls = 14

miRNA qPCR array

First characterisation of miRNA content of sputum-derived exosomes in IPF that identified promising biomarkers for diagnosis and disease severity

miR-15a-5p

COVID-19

M Fayyad-Kazan et al. [47]

↑

Plasma

COVID-19 = 6, healthy controls = 6

qPCR array, qPCR

Plasma miR-19a-3p, miR-19b-3p, and miR-92a-3p expression levels could serve as potential diagnostic biomarker for SARS-CoV-2-infection

MI Mitchell et al. [50]

↑

Serum-derived EVs,

whole serum

COVID-19 patients:

severe (n = 17) vs mild (n = 13)

Small-RNA sequencing, qPCR

miR-146a and miR-126-3p are significantly downregulated in serum-derived EVs with disease severity

IPF

Y Chen et al. [74]

↓

Lung tissue

IPF = 106, healthy controls = 50

Microarray

miR-15a inhibits fibrogenesis in lung fibroblast and abrogated BLM-induced lung fibrosis in mice. Novel strategies for the prevention and treatment of lung fibrosis

miR-31-5p

COVID-19

RJ Farr et al. [75]

↑

Plasma

COVID-19 = 10, healthy controls = 10

Small-RNA sequencing, qPCR

miRNA signature, consisting of miR423-5p, miR-23a-3p, miR-195-5p, could independently classify COVID-19 patients from healthy controls

IPF

NG Casanova et al. [73]

↓

PBMCs

IPF = 70 (according to disease severity)

miRNA qPCR array

miRNA-driven peripheral blood molecular signatures as valuable and novel biomarkers associated to individuals at high survival risk and for potentially facilitating individualized therapies in IPF disease

miR-93-5p

COVID-19

A Demiray et al. [62]

↓

Serum

COVID-19 = 40, healthy controls = 10

qPCR

The increase in miR-190a level may be a prognostic factor related to the COVID-19 disease

IPF

S Mullenbrock et al. [63]

↑

Lung fibroblasts

IPF = 10, healthy controls = 10

Small-RNA sequencing

Over expression of miR-29b-3p, miR-146b-5p, or miR-138-5p decreased expression of distinct sets of fibrotic signature genes

miR-96-5p

COVID-19

CX Li et al. [64]

↓

Blood

COVID-19 = 10, healthy controls = 4

Small-RNA sequencing

New insights into inflammation regulatory mechanisms of miRs in COVID-19, which may provide novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic avenues for COVID-19 patients

IPF

RS Nho et al. [78]

↑

Lung, pulmonary fibroblasts

IPF = 8, healthy controls = 8

qPCR

The alteration of miR-96 expression in IPF fibroblasts contributes to maintain their pathological phenotype, which may contribute to the progression of IPF

miR-144-3p

COVID-19

CX Li et al. [64]

↓

Blood

COVID-19 = 10, healthy controls = 4

Small-RNA sequencing

New insights into inflammation regulatory mechanisms of miRs in COVID-19, which may provide novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic avenues for COVID-19 patients

IPF

NG Casanova et al. [73]

↑

PBMCs

IPF = 70 (according to disease severity)

miRNA qPCR array

miRNA-driven peripheral blood molecular signatures as valuable and novel biomarkers associated to individuals at high survival risk and for potentially facilitating individualized therapies in IPF disease

miR-223

COVID-19

I Saulle et al. [54]

↑

Plasma

COVID-19 = 15, controls = 6

qPCR array

A combination of dysregulated miRNAs and antiviral/immune factors seems to control both the infection and the dysfunctional immune reaction

A Demiray et al. [62]

↓

Serum

COVID-19 = 40, healthy controls = 10

qPCR

The increase in miR-190a level may be a prognostic factor related to the COVID-19 disease

IPF

NG Casanova et al. [73]

↑

PBMCs

IPF = 70 (according to disease severity)

MiRNA qPCR array

miRNA-driven peripheral blood molecular signatures as valuable and novel biomarkers associated to individuals at high survival risk and for potentially facilitating individualized therapies in IPF disease

miR-34b

COVID-19

A Demiray et al. [62]

↓

Serum

COVID-19 = 40, healthy controls = 10

qPCR

Decrease of miR-34b level in COVID-19 disease

IPF

S Disayabutr et al. [79]

↑

AECs

IPF = 15, healthy controls = 15

miRNA arrays, qPCR

The relative levels of senescence-associated miRNAs miR-34a, miR-34b, and miR-34c were significantly higher in AECs from IPF patients

miR-34c

COVID-19

Z Chen et al. [67]

↓

PBMCs

COVID-19 = 17, healthy controls = 6

Small-RNA sequencing

miR-340–3p, miR-652–3p, miR-4772–5p, miR-192–5p may be biomarkers that predict changes in mild SARS-CoV-2 infection

IPF

S Disayabutr et al. [79]

↑

AECs

IPF = 15, healthy controls = 15

miRNA arrays, qPCR

The relative levels of senescence-associated miRNAs miR-34a, miR-34b, and miR-34c were significantly higher in AECs from IPF patients

miR-27a-3p

COVID-19

Z Chen et al. [67]

↓

PBMCs

COVID-19 = 17, healthy controls = 6

Small-RNA sequencing

miR-340–3p, miR-652–3p, miR-4772–5p, miR-192–5p may be biomarkers that predict changes in mild SARS-CoV-2 infection. Some molecules, including hsa-miR-1291, were considered potential targets to predict the emergence of severe symptoms in SARS-CoV-2 infection

D de Gonzalo-Calvo et al. [60]

↑

Plasma

COVID-19 patients: ICU (n = 36) vs ward (n = 43)

qPCR array

Signature of three miRNAs (miR-148a-3p, miR-451a and miR-486-5p) that distinguishes between ICU and ward patients

IPF

H Cui et al. [111]

↓

Lung fibroblasts (control) and myofibroblasts (IPF)

IPF = 6, healthy controls = 6

qPCR

This study discovered that miR-27a-3p was a negative regulator of lung myofibroblast differentiation and pulmonary fibrosis

miR-29c-3p

COVID-19

I Saulle et al. [54]

↑

↑

Plasma

Placenta

COVID-19 = 15, controls = 6

qPCR array

A combination of dysregulated miRNAs and antiviral/immune factors seems to control both the infection and the dysfunctional immune reaction

IPF

T Xie et al. [76]

↓

Alveolar epithelial cells (AECs)

IPF = 7, healthy controls = 4

qPCR

miR-29c maintains epithelial integrity and promotes recovery from lung injury, thereby attenuating lung fibrosis in mice

miR-29a-3p

COVID-19

C Grehl et al. [81]

↓

Plasma

COVID-19 patients:

severe (n = 5) vs

mild (n = 3)

Small-RNA sequencing

Several of these miRNAs are associated with JAK-STAT response and cytokine storm

I Saulle et al. [54]

↑

Plasma

COVID-19 = 15, controls = 6

qPCR array

A combination of dysregulated miRNAs and antiviral/immune factors seems to control both the infection and the dysfunctional immune reaction

R Keikha et al. [82]

↓

Serum

COVID-19 patients with grade 1 (n = 21), grade 2 (n = 20), grade 3 (n = 20), grade 4 (n = 21), and grade 5 (n = 21)

qPCR

Relative expression of miR-31-3p, miR-29a-3p, and miR-126-3p was down-regulated and relative expression of miR-17-3p was up-regulated with the increase of COVID-19 grade

T Donyavi et al. [80]

↑

PBMCs

COVID-19 = 18, healthy controls = 15

qPCR

miR-29a-3p, miR-155-5p and miR-146a-3p may serve as the novel biomarker for COVID-19 diagnosis

IPF

E Tsitoura et al. [83]

↓

BAL cells

IPF = 45, healthy controls = 17

qPCR

Novel evidence of the involvement of the miR-185/AKT pathway in IPF BAL cells, and support for the use of miR-29a and miR-185 as BAL IPF biomarkers

miR-192–5p

COVID-19

Z Chen et al. [67]

↓

PBMCs

COVID-19 = 17, healthy controls = 6

Small-RNA sequencing

miR-340–3p, miR-652–3p, miR-4772–5p, miR-192–5p may be biomarkers that predict changes in mild SARS-CoV-2 infection. Some molecules, including hsa-miR-1291, were considered potential targets to predict the emergence of severe symptoms in SARS-CoV-2 infection

IPF

M-S Njock et al. [29]

↑

Sputum-derived exosomes

IPF = 16, healthy controls = 14

miRNA qPCR array

First characterisation of miRNA content of sputum-derived exosomes in IPF that identified promising biomarkers for diagnosis and disease severity

miR-195-5p

COVID-19

RJ Farr et al. [75]

↑

Plasma

COVID-19 = 10, healthy controls = 10

Small-RNA sequencing, qPCR

miRNA signature, consisting of miR423-5p, miR-23a-3p, miR-195-5p, could independently classify COVID-19 patients from healthy controls (99.9% accuracy)

IPF

C Huang et al. [69]

↓

Lung

IPF = 28 (< 50% FVC vs

 > 80% FVC)

microarray, qPCR

miR-101 is an antifibrotic microRNA and a potential therapeutic target for pulmonary fibrosis

miR-1275

COVID-19

RJ Farr et al. [75]

↓

Plasma

COVID-19 = 10, healthy controls = 10

Small-RNA sequencing, qPCR

miRNA signature, consisting of miR423-5p, miR-23a-3p, miR-195-5p, could independently classify COVID-19 patients from healthy controls (99.9% accuracy)

IPF

NG Casanova et al. [73]

↑

PBMCs

IPF = 70 (according to disease severity)

miRNA qPCR array

miRNA-driven peripheral blood molecular signatures as valuable and novel biomarkers associated to individuals at high survival risk and for potentially facilitating individualized therapies in IPF disease

miR-27b-3p

COVID-19

D de Gonzalo-Calvo et al. [60]

↑

Plasma

COVID-19 patients: ICU (n = 36) vs ward (n = 43)

qPCR array

Signature of three miRNAs (miR-148a-3p, miR-451a and miR-486-5p) that distinguishes between ICU and ward patients

IPF

C Huang et al. [69]

↓

Lung

IPF = 28 (< 50% FVC vs

 > 80% FVC)

Microarray, qPCR

miR-101 is an antifibrotic microRNA and a potential therapeutic target for pulmonary fibrosis

miR-15b-5p

COVID-19

H Tang et al. [77]

↑

Whole blood

COVID-19 patients:

severe (n = 6) vs

moderate (n = 6)

Small-RNA sequencing

miR-146a-5p, miR-21-5p, miR-142-3p, and miR-15b are potential contributors to the disease pathogenesis, possibly serving as biomarkers of severe COVID-19

IPF

Y Chen et al. [74]

↓

Lung tissue

IPF = 106, healthy controls = 50

Microarray

miR-15a-5p inhibits fibrogenesis in lung fibroblast and abrogated BLM-induced lung fibrosis in mice

miR-190a-5p

COVID-19

A Demiray et al. [62]

↑

Serum

COVID-19 = 40, healthy controls = 10

qPCR

The increase in miR-190a level may be a prognostic factor related to the COVID-19 disease

IPF

S Mullenbrock et al. [63]

↓

Lung fibroblasts

IPF = 10, healthy controls = 10

Small-RNA sequencing

Over expression of miR-29b-3p, miR-146b-5p, or miR-138-5p decreased expression of distinct sets of fibrotic signature genes

  1. AECs: alveolar epithelial cells; BALF: Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid; COVID-19: Coronavirus disease 2019; EVs: Extracellular vesicles; FVC: Forced vital capacity; ICU: Intensive care unit; IPF: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; qPCR: quantitative PCR; SARS-CoV-2: severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. ↑: high levels, ↓: low levels