miR-26a and miR-125b as Indicators for the Severity of SARS-CoV-2 Infectious: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

Background: The recent SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic has spread worldwide, with the first cases recorded in December 2019 in China. Symptoms include fever, cough, dyspnea, and gastrointestinal issues. Patients with SARS-CoV-2 are classified as mild, severe, or critical, highlighting the necessity for earlier treatment methods and reliable biomarkers. MicroRNAs have consistently been considered essential biological biomarkers. Objectives: In this case-control study, we investigated the levels of miR-26a and miR-125b in PBMCs of SARS-CoV-2 patients in northwestern Iran. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 100 COVID-19-infected patients, divided into two groups: 50 patients with no serious lung damage and 50 patients with COVID-19 infection and a lung abscess. RNA extraction techniques were used to examine PBMC specimens from COVID-19 patients. mRNA was extracted from WBCs, and the expression levels of miR-26a and miR-125b were evaluated using qRT-PCR in the two study groups. Results: The expression levels of miR-26a and miR-125b in PBMCs of patients with a poor prognosis were significantly lower compared to those with a good prognosis, as shown by qRT-PCR. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis indicated significant diagnostic potential for both miRNAs (miR-26a [area under the ROC curve (AUC)] = 0.8458, P < 0.0001; miR-125b AUC = 0.7944, P < 0.0001). Conclusions: The relative expression of miR-26a and miR-125b in SARS-CoV-2 infection was significantly different between the two study groups. These findings suggest their potential as disease severity indicators and prognostic markers.

Description

Keywords

Citation

URI

Endorsement

Review

Supplemented By

Referenced By