T cell dysfunction in ARDS based on miRNA and mRNA integration analysis (RNA-Seq)

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a respiratory failure in critically ill patients, and the molecular mechanisms underlying its pathogenesis and severity are poorly understood. We evaluated mRNA and miRNA in patients with ARDS and elucidated the pathogenesis of ARDS, following mRNA and miRNA integration analysis. Thirty-four ARDS patients were compared with 15 healthy donors. 1233 mRNAs and 6 miRNAs were upregulated and 1580 mRNAs and 13 miRNAs were downregulated in ARDS patients compared healthy donors. In both mRNA and miRNA-targeted mRNA, the canonical pathway analysis showed that PD-1 and PD-L1 cancer immunotherapy pathway was most activated and Th2 pathway was most suppressed. miR-149-3p and several miRNAs were identified as upstream regulators. Integrated analysis of mRNAs and miRNAs showed that T cells were dysfunctional in ARDS patients.