MicroRNA-based regulation of genomics and transcriptomics of inflammatory cytokines in COVID-19

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 is characterized by the elevation of a wide spectrum of inflammatory mediators which are associated with poor disease outcomes. We aimed at an in-silico analysis of regulatory microRNA and their transcription factors (TF) for these inflammatory genes that may help to devise potential therapeutic strategies in the future. Methods: The cytokine regulating immune-expressed genes (CRIEG) were sorted from literature and GEO microarray dataset and their co-differentially expressed miRNA and transcription factors were predicted from publicly available databases. Enrichment analysis was done through mienturnet, MiEAA, and Gene Ontology, and pathways predicted by KEGG and Reactome pathways. The functional and regulatory features were analyzed and visualized through Cytoscape. Results: Sixteen CRIEG were observed to have a significant protein-protein interaction network. The ontological analysis revealed significantly enriched pathways for biological processes, molecular functions, and cellular components. The search performed in the miRNA database yielded 10 miRNAs that are significantly involved in the regulation of these genes and their transcription factors. Conclusion: An In-Silico representation of a network involving miRNAs, CRIEGs, and TF which take part in the inflammatory response in COVID-19 has been elucidated. These regulatory factors may have potentially critical roles in the inflammatory response in COVID-19 and may be explored further for the development of targeted therapeutic strategies and mechanistic validation.