The two main co-factors needed by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to enter human cells are angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2). Here, we focused on the study of microRNAs that specifically target TMPRSS2. Through a bioinformatic approach, we identified miR-98-5p as a suitable candidate. Since we and others have shown that endothelial cells play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), we mechanistically validated miR-98-5p as a regulator of TMPRSS2 transcription in two different human endothelial cell types, derived from the lung and from the umbilical vein. Taken together, our findings indicate that TMPRSS2 represents a valid target in COVID-19 treatment, which may be achieved by specific non-coding-RNA approaches.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, ACE2, coronavirus, microRNA, lung, epigenetics, Endothelium, non-coding RNA, HMVEC-L, HUVEC, miR-98-5p, TMPRSS2, 【초록키워드】 Treatment, coronavirus disease, Pathogenesis, Transcription, protease, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, Endothelial cell, acute respiratory syndrome, approaches, transmembrane, human cell, serine 2, approach, shown, umbilical, 【제목키워드】 Human,