Cell communication and signaling : CCSFeb 18, 2025

Extracellular vesicles from COVID-19 patient blood carry miR-20b-5p that triggers neutrophil traps

Long Covid Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗OA ↗

Updated Jan 17, 2026

Abstract

Patients with COVID-19 exhibit a higher concentration of serum (COVID-19-EVs) compared to healthy controls.

COVID-19-EVs are taken up by neutrophils, leading to the formation of (NETs).
A total of 78 different miRNAs were found to be expressed differently in COVID-19-EVs compared to normal EVs.
Among the identified miRNAs, 27 were upregulated and 51 were downregulated in COVID-19-EVs.
miR-20b-5p was identified as the most potent inducer of NET formation among the miRNAs analyzed.
Inhibiting miR-20b-5p significantly reduced the ability of COVID-19-EVs to promote NET formation.

Simplified

BACKGROUND: Severe cases of COVID-19 are characterized by an excessive presence of neutrophils. (NETs), released by activated neutrophils due to SARS-CoV-2 infection, contribute to lung epithelial cell death and are key drivers in COVID-19-associated immunothrombosis. However, the mechanism underlying NET formation in COVID-19 remain unclear.

METHODS: (EVs) were isolated from the serum of COVID-19 patients and healthy volunteers, while neutrophils were isolated from blood samples of healthy volunteers. Neutrophils were treated with EVs, and the formation of NETs was observed. To identify the components responsible for the COVID-19-EVs-induced NET formation, we analyzed the expression profiles of (miRNAs) in COVID-19-EVs. We identified eight highly expressed miRNAs in COVID-19-EVs and explored their potential roles in COVID-19-EVs-mediated NET formation. Additionally, we explored the role of miR-20b-5p in COVID-19-EVs-induced NET formation.

RESULTS: In this study, we demonstrate that patients with COVID-19 have a higher concentration of serum EVs (COVID-19-EVs) than healthy controls (Normal-EVs). We also found that COVID-19-EVs are internalized by neutrophils to induced NET formation. Through comprehensive miRNA profiling of COVID-19-EVs versus Normal-EVs, we identified 78 differentially expressed miRNAs, with 27 of these being upregulated and 51 being downregulated. Subsequently, we discovered that COVID-19-EVs that were highly abundant with certain miRNAs promote NET formation. Specifically, miR-20b-5p was found to be the strongest inducer of NET formation of the identified miRNAs. Inhibition of miR-20b-5p resulted in a significant decrease in COVID-19-EVs-mediated induction of NET formation.

CONCLUSION: Herein, we reveal a previously unknown role of COVID-19-EVs in NET formation, which contributes to COVID-19 progression. This study suggests that miR-20b-5p may serve as a potential therapeutic target for COVID-19 treatment.

Key numbers

Higher in COVID-19 patients vs. healthy controls

Increase in concentration

Comparative analysis of serum from COVID-19 patients and healthy volunteers.

78 total (27 upregulated, 51 downregulated)

Differentially expressed

Comparison of expression profiles in COVID-19- vs. Normal-.

Significant decrease following inhibition

NET formation reduction

Effect of inhibition on NET formation induced by COVID-19-.

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Extracellular vesicles from COVID-19 patient blood carry miR-20b-5p that triggers neutrophil traps

Abstract

Key numbers

Full Text

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