Abstract
COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, frequently induces thrombotic complications in affected individuals. P-selectin, a pivotal platelet marker, plays a central role in platelet–leukocyte aggregation, contributing to hemostasis and thrombosis. Additionally, D-dimer serves as an indicator of coagulation system activity, while miR-17-5p exhibits antiviral properties in respiratory infections. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the expression levels of D-dimer, P-selectin, and miR-17-5p in COVID-19 patients hospitalized in intensive care units (ICUs) and those in non-ICU wards. This cross-sectional study included 50 COVID-19 patients, divided into ICU and non-ICU groups. P-selectin expression was assessed using Flow cytometry, D-dimer levels were measured via chemiluminescence, and miR-17-5p expression was analyzed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Our analysis revealed no significant difference in P-selectin expression levels between ICU and non-ICU patients (p = 0.1068). However, the expression levels of D-dimer and miR-17-5p were significantly elevated in ICU patients compared to non-ICU patients, with corresponding p-values of 0.032 and 0.0176, respectively. The heightened expression of D-dimer and miR-17-5p in ICU patients suggests their potential utility as predictive biomarkers for assessing the hemostatic status of COVID-19 patients.




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Acknowledgements
The authors wish to express their sincere gratitude to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences for their invaluable support in facilitating the execution of this study. Their assistance and resources have been instrumental in enabling our research endeavors and contributing to the advancement of medical science. We are deeply appreciative of their dedication to fostering academic excellence and their commitment to promoting research initiatives.
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This study was supported by Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (Shiraz, Iran) (grant number: 23551).
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G.T. and M.M. contributed to the study concept and design. S.A. and P.T. were involved in methodology development. G.T. and V.S. contributed to software development. G.T. and P.T. performed validation procedures. V.S. conducted formal analysis. N.S. conducted the investigation. M.M. provided resources. G.T. and M.M. curated the data. G.T. and V.S. prepared the original draft of the manuscript. G.T. supervised the project and provided visualization and project administration. All authors gave final approval to the manuscript.
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Shirani Asl, V., Moghaddami, M., Abbasi, S. et al. Evaluation of D-Dimer, P-Selectin, and miR-17-5p Expression in ICU and Non-ICU COVID-19 Patients: A Cross-sectional Study. Biochem Genet (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10528-025-11062-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10528-025-11062-x