Molecular Mechanisms of Non-Coding RNAs in Modulating the Pathogenesis of SARS-Cov-2 Infection

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been spreading worldwide since December 2019. It is a significant threat to community healthcare in all countries around the world, so policymakers and researchers are paying close attention to it. The most significant components of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are miRNAs and lncRNAs, which serve as regulatory elements. They are known as vital ingredients of the transcriptome, with a role in normal biological reactions and inflammatory processes, including viral infection. In the field of viral infection, microRNAs and non-coding RNAs with 19 to 25 nucleotides receive more attention as they target mRNAs to control gene expression. However, the role of many lncRNAs is yet to be discovered. In this review, we provide detailed information about the effects of host lncRNAs and viral lncRNAs, interactions between lncRNAs and their interactions with other ncRNAs, and small membrane vesicles called exosomes and microRNAs in COVID-19 infection. The profile of ncRNAs in host cells of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is altered. As a result, these changes may serve as valuable indicators for disease development and severity. Understanding these pathways will help researchers learn more about SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and seek more practical treatments to control cytokine storm and viral life cycle.