en ویروس شناسی ویروس شناسی مروری Review article &nbsp; &nbsp;<span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-justify:kashida"><span style="text-kashida:0%"><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">Epigenetics is a rapidly expanding scientific discipline, and research into epigenetic regulation in diseases, including infectious diseases, is increasing. As one sort of epigenetic activity, micro-ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) bind to their target messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and regulate their stability and/or translation. This study aims to evaluate non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) with a focus on miR-146a in COVID-19. In this review, we first describe epigenetics and miRNAs, then explain the significance of miRNAs in disease, with an emphasis on lung diseases. Finally, we examine the role of miRNAs in viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2, with a particular focus on miR-146a. For all relevant studies published between 2000 and 2022, a systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library was conducted, limited to English-language studies. Studies were included if they were published between 2000 and 2022, written in English, and directly addressed miR-146a expression or function in respiratory or inflammatory diseases. Non-peer-reviewed sources and studies lacking primary data on miR-146a were excluded. The findings revealed that different types of microRNAs can be useful in the therapy of various lung diseases via different target pathways and genes. Among these, miR-146a has emerged as a key regulator of innate immunity and inflammatory responses in respiratory diseases. miR-146a regulates IL-18 production through modulation of the NF-&kappa;B signaling pathway by targeting IRAK1 and TRAF6, which may influence inflammatory responses in severe COVID-19. Furthermore, dysregulation of miR-146a has been associated with enhanced inflammatory responses and disease severity in respiratory viral infections. These findings suggest that miR-146a may serve as a promising biomarker for disease prognosis and a potential therapeutic target in COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases. However, further experimental and clinical studies are required to validate its diagnostic and therapeutic value.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> COVID-19, Epigenetics, MicroRNAs, MiR-146a, Respiratory diseases 6 21 http://umj.umsu.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-4083-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 shahriar alipour alipourshahriar17@gmail.com 3700319475328460038742 3700319475328460038742 Yes Cellular and Molecular Medicine Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran. Karmand Hamad Khdhir kamihamad91@gmail.com 3700319475328460038743 3700319475328460038743 No 2. Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Applied Cell Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran