Assessment of Serum Interleukin-35 Levels in Iraqi Patients with Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Abstract

Background: It is unclear how IL-35 contributes to chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Objective: To evaluate the association of IL-35 with the viral load in HCV infections. Methods: Fifty patients were included, and their age and sex were matched with 50 healthy subjects. Seven ml of venous blood was obtained and tested for anti-HCV antibodies using the ELISA kit, quantitative measurement of HCV RNA by PCR, and estimation of serum levels of IL-35. Results: The HCV viral RNA titers ranged from 165 to 55595000 copies/mL and were positive for anti-HCV antibodies. The control group was negative. The serum level of IL-35 in the patients was significantly lower than in the controls. The correlation coefficient for HCV viral loads and IL-35 in patients is equal to 0.114. The serum IL-35 level was highest in the age group of 30–39 years. The HCV patients on treatment have a mean viral load equal to 406,3051.90 copies/ml and a mean IL-35 level equal to 151.98 ng/ml; those without treatment have a mean viral load equal to 765,525.94 copies/ml and an IL-35 level equal to 165.09 ng/ml. The gender distribution of HCV viral load revealed non-significant differences. Conclusion: Most of the HCV patients did not achieve rapid or sustained virologic responses after treatments. Serum IL-35 was significantly reduced and shows a weak positive correlation with HCV viral load. Older HCV patients usually had lower serum IL-35 levels.