Introduction. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), that is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has spread rapidly worldwide since December 2019. The SARS-CoV-2 virus has a great affinity for the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) receptor, which is an essential element of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). This study is aimed at assessing the impact of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphisms, on the susceptibility and clinical outcomes of the COVID-19 immunoinflammatory syndrome. Patients and Methods. A total of 112 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between 1 and 15 May 2020 were enrolled in the study. ACE gene allele frequencies were compared to the previously reported Turkish population comprised of 300 people. Results. The most common genotype in the patients and control group was DI with 53% and II with 42%, respectively. The difference in the presence of the D allele between the patient and control groups was statistically significant (67% vs. 42%, respectively, ). Severe pneumonia was observed more in patients with DI allele (31%) than DD (8%) and II (0%) ( ). The mortality rate, time to defervescence, and the hospitalization duration were not different between the genotype groups. Conclusion. Genotype DI of ACE I/D polymorphism is associated with the infectious rate particularly severe pneumonia in this study conducted in the Turkish population. Therefore, ACE D/I polymorphism could affect the clinical course of COVID-19.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non‐protein‐coding RNAs which are essential regulators of host genome expression at the post‐transcriptional level. There is evidence of dysregulated miRNA expression patterns in a wide variety of diseases, such as autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. These miRNAs have been termed “inflammamiRs.” When working with miRNAs, the method followed, the approach to treat or diagnosis, and the selected biological material are very crucial. Demonstration of the role of miRNAs in particular disease phenotypes facilitates their evaluation as potential and effective therapeutic tools. A growing number of reports suggest the significant utility of miRNAs and other small RNA drugs in clinical medicine. Most miRNAs seem promising therapeutic options, but some features associated with miRNA therapy like off‐target effect, effective dosage, or differential delivery methods, mainly caused by the short target's sequence, make miRNA therapies challenging. In this review, we aim to discuss some of the inflammamiRs in diseases associated with inflammatory pathways and the challenge of identifying the most potent therapeutic candidates and provide a perspective on achieving safe and targeted delivery of miRNA therapeutics. We also discuss the status of inflammamiRs in clinical trials.
Tayfun Hilmi Akbaba is a PhD graduate and Research Assistant at the Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University. He earned his BSc in Biological Sciences with a minor in Environmental Microbiology from METU, and completed both his MSc and PhD in Medical Biology at Hacettepe University, receiving his PhD in 2024. He also conducted research as a visiting scholar at the University of British Columbia in 2023.
His research focuses on systemic autoinflammatory diseases, particularly Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF). He has published more than 19 peer-reviewed articles in leading journals and contributed to over 20 national and international research projects. His work spans miRNA regulation, inflammasome signaling, mitochondrial dysfunction, and genetic regulators in inflammation and treatment drug resistance.
He has presented at numerous international congresses and received awards including the EduCanada Study in Canada Scholarship and the BCCHR Trainee Travel Grant. Tayfun is also an active reviewer and guest editor in scientific journals.
With a strong commitment to translational research, Tayfun aims to advance personalized medicine in pediatric rheumatology. His academic excellence, global collaboration, and interdisciplinary expertise mark him as a promising scientist in molecular medicine.
Tayfun Hilmi Akbaba is a PhD graduate and Research Assistant at the Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University. He earned his BSc in Biological Sciences with a minor in Environmental Microbiology from METU, and completed both his MSc and PhD in Medical Biology at Hacettepe University, receiving his PhD in 2024. He also conducted research as a visiting scholar at the University of British Columbia in 2023.
His research focuses on systemic autoinflammatory diseases, particularly Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF). He has published more than 19 peer-reviewed articles in leading journals and contributed to over 20 national and international research projects. His work spans miRNA regulation, inflammasome signaling, mitochondrial dysfunction, and genetic regulators in inflammation and treatment drug resistance.
He has presented at numerous international congresses and received awards including the EduCanada Study in Canada Scholarship and the BCCHR Trainee Travel Grant. Tayfun is also an active reviewer and guest editor in scientific journals.
With a strong commitment to translational research, Tayfun aims to advance personalized medicine in pediatric rheumatology. His academic excellence, global collaboration, and interdisciplinary expertise mark him as a promising scientist in molecular medicine.