Viral and Host Small RNA Response to SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Abstract

After two years into the pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), it remains unclear how the host RNA interference (RNAi) pathway and host miRNAs regulate severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and impact the development of COVID-19. In this study, we profiled small RNAs in SARS-CoV-2-infected human ACE2-expressing HEK293T cells and observed dysregulated host small RNA groups, including specific host miRNAs that are altered in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. By comparing dysregulated miRNAs in different SARS-CoV-2-infected samples, we identified miRNA-210-3p, miRNA-30-5p, and miR-146a/b as key host miRNAs that may be involved in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Furthermore, by comparing virally derived small RNAs (vsmRNAs) in different SARS-CoV-2-infected samples, we observed multiple hot spots in the viral genome that are prone to generating vsmRNAs, and their biogenesis can be dependent on the antiviral isoform of Dicer. Moreover, we investigated the biogenesis of a recently identified SARS-CoV-2 viral miRNA encoded by ORF7a and found that it is differentially expressed in different infected cell lines or in the same cell line with different viral doses. Our results demonstrate the involvement of both host small RNAs and vsmRNAs in SARS-CoV-2 infection and identify these small RNAs as potential targets for anti-COVID-19 therapeutic development.