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Role of furin in the severity of COVID-19 infection via effects on miR-20b and miR-106a

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Abstract

Background

Since 2019, COVID-19 and its mutants have been among the fiercest epidemic viruses. Coronavirus is still affecting the world and will continue through its various mutants, the closest example of which is the XEC mutant. Vaccines are currently available to prevent coronavirus infections. However, the currently approved treatments after infection, especially for severely infected patients, are still limited, and they are not suitable for everyone. Many studies have investigated the ability of furin to repair coronavirus viral proteins, and other studies have shown how important miRNAs are for controlling gene expression.

Aim of work

This work aims to clarify the role of furin and the possibility of alleviating the burden of viral infection with COVID-19 and its mutations via effects on miR-20b and miR-106a.

Patients and methods

We collected blood samples from 40 controls and 50 patients. Each patient provided approximately 3 ml of blood, which was separated for measuring furin by ELISA and extracting RNA for real-time PCR for the relative quantification of miRNAs.

Results

The serum levels of Furin and miR-106 were considerably greater in the COVID-19 group than in the control group; however, the level of miR-20b was considerably greater in the control group than in the patients group.

Conclusion

These data suggest that furin and miR-20b concentrations could be beneficial in therapeutic approaches against COVID-19.

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Data availability

No datasets were generated or analyzed during the current study.

Abbreviations

AST:

Aspartate transaminase

ACE2:

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2

ALT:

Alanine transaminase

CSE:

Chondroitin sulfate

CoV:

Coronavirus

COVID-19:

Coronavirus disease 2019

CO-RADS:

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Reporting and Data System

CXR:

Chest X-ray

CSD:

Chondroitin sulfate D

CRP:

C-reactive protein

CT:

Computed tomography

CKD:

Chronic kidney disease

DBP:

Diastolic blood pressure

DM:

Diabetes mellitus

GGO:

Ground-glass opacity (radiological findings on CT)

LDH:

Lactate dehydrogenase

ICU:

Intensive care unit

HR:

Heart rate

GCS:

Glasgow Coma Scale

PT:

Prothrombin time

RA:

Room Air

SARS-CoV-2:

Severe acute respiratory failure syndrome-related coronavirus 2

SARS-CoV:

Severe acute respiratory failure syndrome-related coronavirus

SBP:

Systolic blood pressure

RSNA:

Radiological Society of North America

S2:

Subunit 2

SGP:

Spike glycoprotein

S1:

Subunit 1

TSS:

Toxic shock syndrome

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Funding

None—No financial support was provided to this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Faculty of Post-Graduate Studies for Advanced Sciences, Beni Suef University, Beni Suef, Egypt

    Ismail Mahmoud & Amr E. Ahmed

  2. Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

    Olfat Shaker

Authors
  1. Ismail Mahmoud
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  2. Amr E. Ahmed
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Contributions

OG contributed to the conception, design, and provision of the study materials. All authors (IM, AE, and OG) provided administrative support. All authors (IM, AE, and OG) collected and assembled the data, interpreted them, and wrote the manuscript. All authors (IM, AE, and OG) approved the final manuscript. All authors (IM, AE, and OG) have read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ismail Mahmoud.

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Competing interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethical approval

This study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the Research Ethics Committee (REC) of Cairo University, Faculty of Medicine (Kasr Alainy), as it was approved with the ethical approval number under Code (MS-444-2021).

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Informed consent was obtained from all the participants.

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Mahmoud, I., Ahmed, A.E. & Shaker, O. Role of furin in the severity of COVID-19 infection via effects on miR-20b and miR-106a. Mol Biol Rep 52, 320 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-025-10340-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-025-10340-6

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