Coronavirus disease-۱۹ (COVID-۱۹), caused by the new coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus ۲ (SARS-CoV-۲), has become a worldwide pandemic. The disease primarily spreads through respiratory droplets and manifests with a wide range of symptoms, from mild respiratory illness to severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and multi-organ failure. The virus manipulates the host cell cycle to create a favorable environment for its replication and propagation. One of the key regulators of the cell cycle is cyclin-D, a protein essential for the G۱ to S phase transition in the cell cycle, and P۵۳, a critical tumor suppressor and regulator of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Therapeutic strategies, including antiviral drugs like Remdesivir, have shown varying efficacy in managing symptoms and reducing mortality. This study obtained blood samples from ۳۰ COVID-۱۹ patients before and after
Remdesivir treatment and ۲۰ healthy individuals. RNA was isolated, and cDNA was subsequently synthesized. The expression levels of the p۵۳ and cyclin-D genes were then assessed using Real-time PCR. The results demonstrate that cyclin-D expression increased ۹ times in COVID-۱۹ patients compared to the control group (P<۰.۰۰۱), which remained unaffected by
Remdesivir treatment. Conversely, p۵۳ gene expression was reduced by ۵۰% in the patient group compared to the control group (P<۰.۰۵). Treatment with
Remdesivir increased
P۵۳ gene expression twofold compared to the control group (P<۰.۰۰۱). Furthermore,
P۵۳ gene expression positively correlated with CRP (C Reactive Protein) levels in both the control and patient groups (P<۰.۰۱). The study's findings indicate that certain symptoms of COVID-۱۹ may be linked to the virus's impact on crucial cell cycle genes, such as cyclin-D and p۵۳. Remdesivir, by reducing inflammation and inhibiting viral replication, can help restore normal expression levels of these genes. This may support the therapeutic benefits of using
Remdesivir in treating COVID-۱۹.
