Expression analysis of miRNA hsa-let7b-5p in naso-oropharyngeal swabs of COVID-19 patients supports its role in regulating ACE2 and DPP4 receptors.

ABSTRACT: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the novel coronavirus responsible for worldwide coronavirus disease (COVID-19). We previously observed that Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) are significantly overexpressed in naso-oropharyngeal swabs (NPS) of COVID-19 patients, suggesting their putative functional role in the disease progression. ACE2 and DPP4 overexpression in COVID-19 patients may be associated to epigenetic mechanism, such as miRNA differential expression. We investigated if hsa-let7b-5p, reported to target both ACE2 and DPP4 transcripts, could be involved in the regulation of these genes. We verified that the inhibition and overexpression of hsa-let7b-5p matched to a modulation of both ACE2 and DPP4 levels. Then, we

SUBMITTER: Latini A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9538662 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature