High-Throughput RNA Sequencing Analysis of Plasma Samples Reveals Circulating microRNA Signatures with Biomarker Potential in Dengue Disease Progression
Jaya Saini, Bhaswati Bandyopadhyay, Abhay Deep Pandey, V. G. Ramachandran, Shukla Das, Vikas Sood, Arup Banerjee, Sudhanshu Vrati
Abstract
Dengue virus (DENV) infection usually causes dengue fever (DF) with flu-like illness affecting infants, young children, and adults. The DF occasionally evolves into a potentially lethal complication called dengue severe (DS) leading to a rapid fall in platelet count along with plasma leakage, fluid accumulation, respiratory distress, and severe bleeding. The diverse clinical spectrum of dengue disease, as well as its significant similarity to other febrile viral illnesses, makes early identification more challenging in this high-risk group. microRNAs (miRNAs) are small (∼19 to 21 nucleotides [nt] in length), noncoding RNAs, extremely stable and easily detectable in the plasma; thus, they have potential as biomarkers for diagnosing and monitoring human diseases. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of miRNAs circulating in plasma of dengue virus-infected patients and identifies the miRNA signatures that have biomarker potential for dengue infection and disease progression.