Tehran University of Medical Sciences Acta Biochimica Iranica 0001-5261 2 1 2024 03 22 45 51 Sepideh Barzin Tond Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Sahar Yarahmadi Iran University of Medical Sciences Reza Fadaei Sleep disorders research center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran Navid Farahmandian Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohammadjavad Sotoudeheian Physiology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Rahim Rostami Iran University of Medical Sciences Nasim Khajavirad Internal Medicine Department, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran Abbas Tafakhori Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Neuroscience Institute, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran Minoosh Shabani Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU), Tehran, Iran Ali Riazi , Kondor Pharma Inc., Toronto, Canada Soudabeh Fallah Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Saeed Karima *, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2024 01 05 2024 05 22 Objects: Coronavirus, a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus with ~30 kb, can infect various host species. Cytokine storm, caused by the activation of some pro-inflammatory genes in the second phase of COVID-19 as an infectious and contagious disease, is accompanied by severe acute respiratory disorder. Based on the evidence, microRNAs (miR) and cytokine levels can play a critical role in host cell antiviral defense mechanisms. The present study investigates the pattern changes of IP-10 and miR-296-5p genes expression as well as their relationship with some inflammatory cytokines and biochemical variables in COVID-19 patients. Methods: Present retrospective single-center study was conducted on 30 COVID-19 patients and 30 controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) miR-296-5p and IP-10 gene expression were evaluated using real-time PCR. IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP serum levels were measured by utilizing ELISA. Results: Higher miR-296-5p and IP-10 genes expression in COVID-19 patients compared to controls (P=0.001) were revealed as a result of this study. Moreover, IP-10, IL-6, and TNF-α levels were significantly higher (P‌<‌0.01) in COVID-19 patients than in controls. Furthermore, results showed positive correlations between miR-296-5p expression and serum levels of IL-6, CRP, and TNF-α in patients with COVID-19. ROC curve analysis of miR-296-5p in COVID-19 patients showed an [area under curve‌=‌0.830, 95% CI (0.658‌-‌0.815), P‌<‌0.001] with an optimal cut-off point of 0.32965. Conclusions: Our results suggest regulatory role of miR-296-5p in COVID-19 for cytokine secretion. The results indicate that PBMC expression of miR-296-5p and IP-10 genes might be convenient novel biomarkers for prognosis of COVID-19. https://abi.tums.ac.ir/index.php/abi/article/view/73 https://abi.tums.ac.ir/index.php/abi/article/download/73/51