MicroRNAs as Key Regulators in Klebsiella pneumoniae Infections: New Insights

A recent review published in Biomolecules and Biomedicine underscores the pivotal role of microRNAs (miRNAs), small RNA molecules that regulate gene expression, in the body's response to Klebsiella pneumoniae infections. This pathogen, a Gram-negative bacterium, is a significant cause of hospital-acquired infections, including pneumonia, sepsis, peritonitis, and urinary tract infections. Its capacity to develop multidrug-resistant and hypervirulent strains has made it a major challenge in clinical settings worldwide.

The study highlights how miRNAs influence various aspects of the immune response during infection. In lung infections, specific miRNAs such as miR-155, miR-23a, and miR-181a-5p modulate inflammation and tissue damage by affecting signaling pathways like p38MAPK and STAT3. During sepsis, miRNAs are linked to immune dysregulation and can serve as biomarkers for disease severity; for instance, miR-155 impacts neutrophil activity, while others like miR-7108-5p and miR-342-3p are involved in bacterial evasion from immune defenses.

In peritonitis, miRNAs regulate cytokine responses by targeting pathways such as TLR/IL-1, balancing immune activation and tolerance. The review also discusses the role of SUMOylation, a protein modification process influenced by miRNAs that can either enhance or dampen immune responses.

With rising antibiotic resistance making conventional treatments less effective, miRNAs present promising new avenues for diagnostics and therapy. Targeting specific miRNAs could help enhance immune defenses or reduce harmful inflammation, offering a complementary approach to antibiotics, especially in multidrug-resistant cases.

Researchers are exploring miRNA-based strategies, such as developing diagnostic tools to assess infection severity and treatment response, or by designing miRNA modulators that can synergize with existing antibiotics. As understanding of host-pathogen interactions deepens, miRNAs are emerging as powerful tools in the ongoing effort to combat infectious diseases caused by K. pneumoniae.

For more detailed information, refer to the original publication: Chuhan Zhang et al, Function and mechanism of miRNAs during the process of Klebsiella pneumoniae infection, Biomolecules and Biomedicine (2025).