miRNAs: The Key Regulator of COVID-19 Disease

Figure 2

Probable SARS-CoV-2 escape strategies through miRNAs. SARS-CoV-2 can escape the immune response through strategies: 1—inhibition of the host miRNAs by sponge forming and degradation, 2—mutation in viral genome binding sites of the host miRNAs, 3—antagonizing the host miRNA biogenesis pathway, 4—altering the host miRNA network activity, 5—encoding cytokines and TMPRSS2 genes, 6—increasing miRNA binding sites, silent viral replication, and avoiding the immune system, 7—competition between RNA-binding proteins (RBP) and miRNAs, 8—mirroring the host miRNAs, and 9—targeting RNA-directed miRNA degradation (TDMD). Abbreviations: ACE2: angiotensin-converting enzyme; TMPRSS2: transmembrane protease serine 2; AGO: argonaute; Dicer; RBP: RNA-binding protein; RISC: RNA-induced silencing complex.