Profile of Tau-Associated Selected MicroRNAs in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: An Exploratory Single-Center Study

TL;DR

This study explores how certain microRNAs linked to tau proteins behave in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and finds they are elevated compared to healthy individuals.

Contribution

The study is the first to quantify specific tau-associated microRNAs in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and assess their association with disease severity.

Findings

All three miRNAs (miR-92a-3p, miR-320a, miR-320b) were elevated in hospitalized COVID-19 patients compared to healthy controls.

miR-320b was significantly elevated only in severe cases of COVID-19.

No significant correlations were found between miRNA levels and biomarkers of neuroinflammation or neurodegeneration.

Abstract

Tau-associated microRNAs have been implicated in neurodegenerative disorders, yet their behavior during SARS-CoV-2 infection remains insufficiently understood. The aim of this study was to quantify circulating levels of miR-92a-3p, miR-320a, and miR-320b in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and evaluate their relationship with disease severity and established biomarkers of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. We conducted a retrospective single-center study including 38 hospitalized COVID-19 patients and 12 healthy controls. MicroRNA plasma levels were quantified by RT-qPCR. Patients were stratified by ARDS severity and ventilation requirements. Correlations between miRNAs and previously published biomarkers were examined. All three miRNAs were elevated in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy controls. miR-92a-3p and miR-320a were increased in both severe and non-severe cases, while miR-320b was significantly elevated only in severe disease. No statistically significant correlations were observed between miRNA levels and NfL, GFAP, MMP-9, or other biomarkers in COVID-19 patients. Tau-associated circulating microRNAs appear dysregulated in acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, but their relationship to neurological injury remains unclear. These findings are preliminary and require validation in larger, longitudinal cohorts with standardized neurological outcomes.

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