Expression pattern of long non‐coding RNAs MALAT1 and MEG3 in COVID‐19 patients

Abstract

BackgroundCOVID‐19 is a novel infectious disease for which no specific treatment exists. It is likely that a combination of genetic and non‐genetic factors predispose to it. Expression levels of genes that are involved in the interaction with SARS‐CoV‐2 or the host response are thought to play a role in disease susceptibility and severity. It is crucial to explore biomarkers for disease severity and outcome. Herein, we studied the expression levels and effects of long non‐coding metastasis‐associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (lnc‐MALAT1) and long non‐coding maternally expressed gene 3 (lnc‐MEG3) in COVID‐19 patients. The study enrolled 35 hospitalized and 35 non‐hospitalized COVID‐19 patients, and 35 healthy controls. A chest computed tomography (CT) scan, complete blood count (CBC), ferritin, C‐reactive protein (CRP), D‐dimer and analysis of lnc‐MALAT1 and lnc‐MEG3 expression were done.ResultsThere was a significant relation between ferritin, CRP, D‐dimer levels, oxygen saturation, CT‐CORADS score and disease severity. Lnc‐MALAT1 was significantly higher but lnc‐MEG3 was significantly lower in patients vs. controls, and in hospitalized vs. non‐hospitalized patients. Elevated MALAT1 and reduced MEG3 levels were significantly associated with more elevated ferritin, CRP, D‐dimer levels, lower oxygen saturation, higher CT‐CORADS score and poor survival. Moreover, MALAT1 and MEG3 levels displayed higher sensitivity and specificity as predictors of COVID‐19 severity compared with other prognostic biochemical markers such as ferritin, CRP, and D‐dimer.ConclusionsMALAT1 levels are higher, whereas MEG3 levels are lower in COVID‐19 patients. Both are linked to disease severity and mortality and could emerge as predictive biomarkers for COVID‐19 severity and therapeutic targets.

Unveiling the Hidden Regulators: The Impact of lncRNAs on Zoonoses

“…In CD8+ T cells, the SARS-CoV-2-induced lncRNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 15 ( SNHG15 ) interacts with the vesicle transport protein Vps13D and regulates the IL-7 signaling pathway, promoting the generation of memory CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, a series of lncRNAs, such as MALAT1 , MEG3 , XIST , ZFY-AS1 , and TTTY14 , serve as noteworthy biomarkers for SARS-CoV-2 infection [ 162 , 163 ]. These lncRNAs exhibit some pathological impacts and present novel targets for the advancement of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.…”