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. 2022 Aug 19;23(16):9354.
doi: 10.3390/ijms23169354.

Expression of MicroRNAs in Sepsis-Related Organ Dysfunction: A Systematic Review

Aniello Maiese  1 , Andrea Scatena  1 , Andrea Costantino  1 , Enrica Chiti  1 , Carla Occhipinti  1 , Raffaele La Russa  2 , Marco Di Paolo  1 , Emanuela Turillazzi  1 , Paola Frati  3 , Vittorio Fineschi  3
Affiliations

Expression of MicroRNAs in Sepsis-Related Organ Dysfunction: A Systematic Review

Aniello Maiese et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Sepsis is a critical condition characterized by increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and proliferating cells such as neutrophils and macrophages in response to microbial pathogens. Such processes lead to an abnormal inflammatory response and multi-organ failure. MicroRNAs (miRNA) are single-stranded non-coding RNAs with the function of gene regulation. This means that miRNAs are involved in multiple intracellular pathways and thus contribute to or inhibit inflammation. As a result, their variable expression in different tissues and organs may play a key role in regulating the pathophysiological events of sepsis. Thanks to this property, miRNAs may serve as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in such life-threatening events. In this narrative review, we collect the results of recent studies on the expression of miRNAs in heart, blood, lung, liver, brain, and kidney during sepsis and the molecular processes in which they are involved. In reviewing the literature, we find at least 122 miRNAs and signaling pathways involved in sepsis-related organ dysfunction. This may help clinicians to detect, prevent, and treat sepsis-related organ failures early, although further studies are needed to deepen the knowledge of their potential contribution.

Keywords: blood; brain; heart; kidney; liver; lungs; miRNA; microRNA; multiple organ dysfunction; sepsis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review (PRISMA) flow chart—search strategy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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