Non-Coding RNAs in COVID-19: Emerging Insights and Current Questions

The highly infectious severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged as the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in late 2019, igniting an unprecedented pandemic. A mechanistic picture characterising the acute immunopathological disease in severe COVID-19 is developing. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) constitute the transcribed but un-translated portion of the genome and, until recent decades, have been undiscovered or overlooked. A growing body of research continues to demonstrate their interconnected involvement in the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 development by regulating several of its pathological hallmarks: cytokine storm syndrome, haemostatic alterations, immune cell recruitment, and vascular dysregulation. There is also keen interest in exploring the possibility of host–virus RNA–RNA and RNA–RBP interactions. Here, we discuss and evaluate evidence demonstrating the involvement of short and long ncRNAs in COVID-19 and use this information to propose hypotheses for future mechanistic and clinical studies.

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A Missing Link: Engagements of Dendritic Cells in the Pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 Infections

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22031118 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 1118

Author(s):

Abdulaziz Alamri ◽

Derek Fisk ◽

Deepak Upreti ◽

Sam K. P. Kung

Keyword(s):

Dendritic Cells ◽

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Immune Cell ◽

Inflammatory Responses ◽

Viral Disease ◽

Cell Recruitment ◽

Cross Presentation ◽

Cell Immunity ◽

Immune Cell Recruitment

Dendritic cells (DC) connect the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system and carry out numerous roles that are significant in the context of viral disease. Their functions include the control of inflammatory responses, the promotion of tolerance, cross-presentation, immune cell recruitment and the production of antiviral cytokines. Based primarily on the available literature that characterizes the behaviour of many DC subsets during Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), we speculated possible mechanisms through which DC could contribute to COVID-19 immune responses, such as dissemination of Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to lymph nodes, mounting dysfunctional inteferon responses and T cell immunity in patients. We highlighted gaps of knowledge in our understanding of DC in COVID-19 pathogenesis and discussed current pre-clinical development of therapies for COVID-19.

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The Cutaneous Wound Innate Immunological Microenvironment

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms21228748 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (22) ◽

pp. 8748

Author(s):

Stephen Kirchner ◽

Vivian Lei ◽

Amanda S. MacLeod

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Wound Repair ◽

Immune Cell ◽

Skin Barrier ◽

Innate Immune ◽

Immune Microenvironment ◽

Cell Recruitment ◽

Adaptive Processes ◽

Immune Cell Recruitment

The skin represents the first line of defense and innate immune protection against pathogens. Skin normally provides a physical barrier to prevent infection by pathogens; however, wounds, microinjuries, and minor barrier impediments can present open avenues for invasion through the skin. Accordingly, wound repair and protection from invading pathogens are essential processes in successful skin barrier regeneration. To repair and protect wounds, skin promotes the development of a specific and complex immunological microenvironment within and surrounding the disrupted tissue. This immune microenvironment includes both innate and adaptive processes, including immune cell recruitment to the wound and secretion of extracellular factors that can act directly to promote wound closure and wound antimicrobial defense. Recent work has shown that this immune microenvironment also varies according to the specific context of the wound: the microbiome, neuroimmune signaling, environmental effects, and age play roles in altering the innate immune response to wounding. This review will focus on the role of these factors in shaping the cutaneous microenvironment and how this ultimately impacts the immune response to wounding.

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A Study of the Immunological Response to Tumor Ablation with Irreversible Electroporation

Technology in Cancer Research & Treatment ◽

10.1177/153303460700600406 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 301-305 ◽

Cited By ~ 67

Author(s):

B. Al-Sakere ◽

C. Bernat ◽

F. André ◽

E. Connault ◽

P. Opolon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Immune Cells ◽

Thermal Effects ◽

Immune Cell ◽

Irreversible Electroporation ◽

Immunological Response ◽

Tissue Ablation ◽

Cell Recruitment ◽

Electrical Fields ◽

Immune Cell Recruitment

Immune cell recruitment during the treatment of sarcoma tumors in mice with irreversible electroporation was studied by immunohistochemistry. Irreversible electroporation is a non-thermal tissue ablation technique in which certain short duration electrical fields are used to permanently permeabilize the cell membrane, presumably through the formation of nanoscale defects in the membrane. Employing irreversible electroporation parameters known to completely ablate the tumors without thermal effects we did not find infiltration of immune cells probably because of the destruction of infiltration routes. We confirm here that immune response is not instrumental in irreversible electroporation efficacy, and we propose that irreversible electroporation may be, therefore, a treatment modality of interest to immunodepressed cancer patients.

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