Identification of circulating microRNA profiles associated with pulmonary function and radiologic features in survivors of SARS-CoV-2-induced ARDS. Issue 1 (31st December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: García-Hidalgo, María C.; González, Jessica; Benítez, Iván D.; Carmona, Paola; Santisteve, Sally; Pérez-Pons, Manel; Moncusí-Moix, Anna; Gort-Paniello, Clara; Rodríguez-Jara, Fátima; Molinero, Marta; Belmonte, Thalia; Torres, Gerard; Labarca, Gonzalo; Nova-Lamperti, Estefania; Caballero, Jesús; Bermejo-Martin, Jesús F.; Ceccato, Adrián; Fernández-Barat, Laia; Ferrer, Ricard; Garcia-Gasulla, Dario; Menéndez, Rosario; Motos, Ana; Peñuelas, Oscar; Riera, Jordi; Torres, Antoni; Barbé, Ferran; de Gonzalo-Calvo, David
• Is Part Of: Emerging microbes & infections. Volume 11:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 1537
• Page End: 1549
• Publication Date: 2022-12-31
• Subjects: Acute respiratory distress syndrome -- COVID-19 -- lung function -- microRNA -- sequelae -- total severity score; Medical microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; 616.9041
• DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2022.2081615
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2222-1751

Abstract

ABSTRACT: There is a limited understanding of the pathophysiology of postacute pulmonary sequelae in severe COVID-19. The aim of current study was to define the circulating microRNA (miRNA) profiles associated with pulmonary function and radiologic features in survivors of SARS-CoV-2-induced ARDS. The study included patients who developed ARDS secondary to SARS-CoV-2 infection (n = 167) and a group of infected patients who did not develop ARDS (n = 33). Patients were evaluated 3 months after hospital discharge. The follow-up included a complete pulmonary evaluation and chest computed tomography. Plasma miRNA profiling was performed using RT-qPCR. Random forest was used to construct miRNA signatures associated with lung diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO ) and total severity score (TSS). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analyses were conducted. DLCO < 80% predicted was observed in 81.8% of the patients. TSS showed a median [P25 ;P75 ] of 5 [2;8]. The miRNA model associated with DLCO comprised miR-17-5p, miR-27a-3p, miR-126-3p, miR-146a-5p and miR-495-3p. Concerning radiologic features, a miRNA signature composed by miR-9-5p, miR-21-5p, miR-24-3p and miR-221-3p correlated with TSS values. These associations were not observed in the non-ARDS group. KEGG pathway and GO enrichment analyses provided evidence of molecular mechanisms related not only to profibrotic or anti-inflammatory states but also to cell death, immune response, hypoxia, vascularization, coagulation and viral infection. In conclusion, diffusing capacity and radiological features in survivors from SARS-CoV-2-induced ARDS are associated with specific miRNA profiles. These findings provide novel insights into the possible molecular pathways underlying the pathogenesis of pulmonary sequelae. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04457505. . Trial registration: ISRCTN.org identifier: ISRCTN16865246. .