Molecular insights into the benefits of regular exercise in combating immunological mayhem during SARS-CoV-2 infection
Abstract COVID-19 has caused devastation around the world with death tolls increasing every day. Case studies and hospital data suggest that immunocompromised individuals are at a greater risk of serious consequences caused by this disease. Regular exercise has been proven to combat multifarious diseases by improving overall health of the individual. A recent study has proven that regular exercise can reduce the serious illness associated with COVID-19. Circulating miRNAs released from the muscles during strenuous exercise has also been found to have anti-inflammatory effects. So, it was hypothesized that regular exercise might be releasing therapeutic miRNAs in the blood that might be reducing the immunological chaos in COVID-19 patients. Using network and systems biology approach, mRNA targets of 3 upregulated exomiRs (hsa-miR-486-5p, hsa-miR-215-5p, hsa-miR-941) in the blood of regularly exercising adults were mapped in the blood of COVID-19 patients. hsa-miR-215-5p, hsa-miR-486-5p and hsa-miR-941 were found to target 8, 93 and 99 upregulated mRNAs respectively. Functional enrichment analysis showed that hsa-miR-486-5p might be preventing thrombosis and aggravated inflammation in regularly exercising COVID-19 patients. Thus, hsa-miR-486-5p can be considered to have therapeutic roles against immunological damage caused by COVID-19.