Possible implication of miRNAs in the treatment of transcriptionally active erythroparvovirus infection

Background: MiRNAs, which are compact non-coding RNAs, hold pivotal roles in gene expression, cell differentiation, and tissue development. They exhibit crucial regulatory functions that influence the prognosis of viral infections, govern the interplay between the host and viruses, either through direct interaction with the viral genome or by altering the host's cellular microenvironment. The progress miRNA-based antiviral therapies is promising, as during this study we demonstrated the ability of miRNAs to selectively suppress transcriptionally active erythroparvovirus.

Methods: The study entailed the examination of 75 biopsy specimens obtained from individuals who had been diagnosed with unexplained heart failure via endomyocardial biopsy (EMB). Out of these samples, 19 were from patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy with inflammation (DCMi), 12 were from Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients, 25 were from patients who exhibited both inflammation and transcriptionally active erythroparvovirus infection, and 13 were from patients exclusively affected by transcriptionally active erythroparvovirus infection without concurrent inflammation. Additionally, the study included 6 biopsy samples from patients who had not yet received a formal diagnosis as a control group. The expression levels of miRNA were quantified using TaqMan assays.

Results: MiR-98, miR-222, miR-106b, and miR-197 showed distinct upregulation exclusively in patients with transcriptionally active erythroparvovirus infection, regardless of the overall presence or grade of inflammation (P < 0.005). These miRNAs enabled effective differentiation between individuals with transcriptionally active erythroparvovirus infection unlinked to inflammation and all other participant groups (P < 0.005), boasting a specificity surpassing 90%.

Conclusion: The discovery of these specific miRNAs presents a fresh approach to diagnosing transcriptionally active erythroparvovirus infections. Moreover, these miRNAs show potential as prospective candidates for personalized therapeutic interventions, offering an alternative to antiviral treatments that come with associated risks and side effects.