Analysis of the serum microRNAs profiling associated with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus infection

Abstract

Objective To understand the serum microRNAs profiling associated with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) infection,and to identify the miRNAs related to viral infection or immune responses.Methods TaqMan Low-Density Array (TLDA) was used to analyze expression levels of miRNAs in serum samples from the patients and healthy controls.Some miRNAs associated with viral infection or immune responses were examined by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).Results Compared with the healthy controls,TLDA revealed 147 miRNAs were differentially expressed (fold-change ＞ 2) in patients,among which 117 miRNAs were up-regulated and 30 were downregulated.Twenty-three of 147 differentially expressed miRNAs were related to viral infection and immune responses.Six miRNAs were examined by qRT-PCR,and four miRNAs (miR-155,miR-126,miR-15b,miR19b) were consistent with TLDA.Conclusions Serum microRNAs profiling associated with SFTSV infection was obtained by TLDA,and some miRNAs were related to viral infection or immune responses. Key words: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus; Serum; MicroRNAs; Low-Density Array