SARS-CoV-2 Proteins Found to Hijack miRNAs of Human Lung Cells and Trigger Dangerous Cellular Changes
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team May 23, 2025 6 hours, 54 minutes ago
Medical News: Researchers Uncover a Hidden Viral Tactic
Scientists from Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi, India, have made an alarming discovery about how the SARS-CoV-2 virus manipulates human biology in ways previously underestimated. While the infamous spike protein is known for enabling the virus to enter human cells, this new research turns the spotlight on two lesser-known viral proteins—ORF3a and ORF6—that appear to sabotage critical cellular functions in the lungs.
SARS-CoV-2 Proteins Found to Hijack miRNAs of Human Lung Cells and Trigger Dangerous Cellular Changes
These accessory proteins don’t just linger harmlessly in infected cells. Instead, they alter the expression of small but powerful molecules called microRNAs (miRNAs), which regulate a wide array of cell activities. In human lung epithelial cells, ORF3a and ORF6 were found to disrupt the balance of 14 and 19 different miRNAs, respectively—causing chaos in vital signaling pathways.
Hijacking the Body’s Communication Systems
This
Medical News report emphasizes how these changes triggered by ORF3a and ORF6 affect several crucial pathways, including PI3K/AKT, NF-κB, TNF, IL-17, TGF-β, and MAPK. These signaling pathways are responsible for how cells respond to inflammation, stress, and immune threats. By tampering with them, the virus may increase inflammation and simultaneously evade the body's natural defenses. Key miRNAs targeted by the viral proteins include hsa-miR-101-3p, hsa-miR-4455, hsa-miR-10b-5p, hsa-miR-940, and hsa-miR-4483.
Lab techniques like real-time PCR and immunoblotting were used to confirm these changes. ORF3a appears to encourage a pro-inflammatory environment in the lungs, possibly leading to more severe lung damage. Meanwhile, ORF6 weakens the interferon response, an essential part of the immune system’s early warning mechanism, helping the virus escape detection.
Why This Discovery Matters
The findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 uses more than just brute force to damage the human body—it uses stealth and manipulation at a microscopic level. The study concludes that this miRNA hijacking not only promotes inflammation and immune evasion but may also contribute to long-term lung dysfunction and chronic symptoms seen in long COVID cases.
Understanding how SARS-CoV-2 exploits these cellular regulators could pave the way for new treatments aimed at blocking these interactions. Preventing miRNA manipulation might help reduce the severity of infections and limit long-term complications.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Molecular Biology Reports
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11033-025-10596-y
For the latest COVID-19 News, keep on logging to Thailand
Medi
cal News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-can-trigger-deadly-autoimmune-hemolytic-anemia-which-often-shows-no-early-symptoms
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-disrupts-the-body-s-blood-pressure-control-system-and-amplifies-health-risks-in-hypertensive-patients
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-virus-found-to-disrupt-key-brain-protein-tdp-43-in-a-manner-similarly-seen-in-alzheimer-and-als-like-diseases
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/coronavirus
https://www.thailandmedical.news/pages/thailand_doctors_listings
Share
Tweet
Share
