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

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.