Cytomegalovirus microRNAs level determination in kidney recipients post transplantation

BACKGROUND: Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) can establish a latent infection with periodic or sporadic reactivation after the first infection happens. Primary and recurrent infection, results in different problems in patients with impaired or immature immune systems, such as kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) are important regulatory molecules in the outcome of CMV-infected KTRs. Therefore, in this study the expression level of CMV miRNAs were evaluated in active vs. latent CMV infected KTRs. METHODS: Expression of viral miRNAs were studied in 61 KTRs which were divided into 30 active CMV and 31 latent CMV infected individuals. In order to study the expression level of selected miRNAs, SYBR Green Real-time PCR technique was exploited. Also, mature miRNAs expression level that were produced from one precursor, studied both in active and latent situations. RESULTS: Among studied miRNAs’ expression level, CMV miR-UL112-3p/5p, -UL22A-3p/5p, -US25-1-5p, -US25-2-3p/5p, -UL36-3p/5p and -UL70-3p showed significant increase in active CMV infected KTRs in comparison to latent ones. The ROC curve analysis results for miR-UL112-3p, -UL22A-3p, -US25-2-3p, -UL36-3p and -UL70-3p showed significant difference between two studied patient groups. CONCLUSION: This study revealed an extremely high expression level in CMV miR-UL112-3p/5p, -UL22A-3p/5p, -US25-1-5p, -US25-2-3p/5p, -UL36-3p/5p and -UL70-3p in active CMV infected KTRs in comparison to latent ones. Further studies might help in finding the capability of miRNAs to differentiate active from latent stage of CMV infection in KTRs. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12985-022-01880-5.