Exploring plasma expression levels of miR-200c-3p, miR-150, and miR-155 in SARS-CoV-2 positive and negative subjects

Abstract

Aim: The global pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has driven significant research into diagnostic methods, particularly the use of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) as potential prognostic biomarkers. This study investigated the plasma expression levels of miR-200c-3p, miR-150, and miR-155 in both SARS-CoV-2 positive and negative subjects. Method: We employed quantitative real-time PCR to quantify the plasma expression levels of miR-200c-3p, miR-150, and miR-155 in 94 SARS-CoV-2 positive and 94 SARS-CoV-2 negative individuals. The fold-change expression levels of the miRNAs were evaluated, and receiving operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to calculate sensitivity and specificity. Results: miR-200c-3p and miR-155 were significantly elevated in SARS-CoV-2 positive subjects compared to the SARS-CoV-2 negative group. The expression level of miR-150 was reduced (p < 0.001). The highest AUC of 0.88 was associated with miR-200c-3p demonstrating a sensitivity of 90.4 and specificity of 69.1 (p < 0.001). Conclusion: A significant alteration in the plasma expression levels of these miRNAs in SARS-CoV-2 positive patients was shown. These miRNAs could potentially serve as biomarkers for SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, it is important to note that our research is preliminary, and further research is necessary to explore the clinical applicability of these findings.