Overexpression of PIN1 in patients with severe COVID-19.

This study aimed to investigate the significant expression of Peptidyl prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PIN1) as a key regulator of COVID-19 cycle. A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) measured the expression levels of PIN1 in the serum of mild and severe patients and evaluated its association with clinical parameters. ROC curve analysis was performed to evaluate the expression of PIN1 for the diagnosis of COVID-19 between mild and severe patients. Expression of the PIN1 gene in severe patients (0.89±0.43) was higher than in mild patients (-2.28±0.34), and this difference was statistically significant between the two groups regardless of other factors (P‑value<0.0001). ROC curve analysis showed that high PIN1 levels in the discrimination of severe from mild patients could be useful. PIN1 expression levels were significantly associated with shortness of breath and cough. PIN1 can be considered an effective factor in the intensification of the symptoms of COVID-19.