ASSINATURAS TRANSCRIPTÔMICAS DO HOSPEDEIRO COMO BIOMARCADORES DIFERENCIAIS EM INFECÇÕES RESPIRATÓRIAS: UMA REVISÃO INTEGRATIVA DE MARCADORES DE EXPRESSÃO GÊNICA DA RESPOSTA IMUNE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36557/2674-8169.2026v8n2p1084-1100Keywords:
Differential Diagnosis, Precision Medicine, Genetic Risk ScoreAbstract
Introduction: Respiratory infections are a major cause of global morbidity and mortality, and their etiological distinction remains a clinical challenge due to the overlap of clinical manifestations between viral and bacterial agents. In this context, high-throughput transcriptomic technologies have enabled the identification of host gene expression signatures capable of reflecting specific immune responses, establishing themselves as potential differential biomarkers in respiratory infections. Objective: To analyze the main transcriptomic signatures of the host described as differential biomarkers in respiratory infections. Methods: This is an Integrative Literature Review conducted in the National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE) and Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS) databases, using the descriptors “Respiratory Infections,” Transcriptome, and Biomarkers, and their English equivalents. Studies published between 2021 and 2026, available in full in Portuguese or English, were included. After applying the eligibility criteria, 14 studies comprised the final sample. Results: The studies analyzed were mostly observational, with a predominance of publications in English. The transcriptomic signatures identified were categorized as multigene, single-cell/spatial, metatranscriptomic, and specific immune signatures in blood or swabs. Among the highlighted biomarkers, interferon-dependent genes, immune subtypes, NETs, and signatures associated with pulmonary tuberculosis and respiratory viral infections were observed. Discussion: The findings demonstrate that different respiratory agents induce specific patterns of host gene expression, with diagnostic and prognostic potential. Despite methodological heterogeneity among studies, transcriptomic signatures proved superior to the exclusively pathogen-dependent approach. Conclusion: Host transcriptomic signatures represent a promising and pathogen-agnostic strategy for the etiological differentiation of respiratory infections, with potential future clinical application, although they still require additional validation and methodological standardization.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Franklin Gustavo Rodrigues Vitor, Carlos Daniel Soares de Sousa, Ranufe Rafael de Oliveira Cardins Nogueira, José Ivan dos Santos Júnior , Thiago Vilar Crispim, Antônio Cabral da Silva Neto, Jhonatas Gabriel dos Santos Barreto, Caio Lira Palmeira Araújo de Souza, Guilherme de Melo Lima Medeiros , Andressa Victória Noberto Chaves
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors are copyright holders under a CCBY 4.0 license.
