The Immunoregulatory Function of Serum Interleukin-37 and Link to Biochemical Markers of Liver Injury in Chronic HBV and HCV Infections

Abstract

Rendering to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO), around 296 million people are chronically infected with HBV, while approximately 58 million live with chronic HCV infection globally .In the present study, 100 patients diagnosed with chronic HBV or HCV infections and 90 healthy individuals were recruited. Participants were grouped by age for further analysis. Among those infected, the maximum prevalence was observed in the 40–49-year age group, accounting for 57.7% (30 individuals), whereas the lowest prevalence was found in the 50–59-year group at 47.4% (9 individuals). In contrast, the control group showed the maximum frequency in the 50–59-year age range (52.6%, 22 individuals), with the lowest frequency in individuals aged 40–49 (42.3%, 10 individuals).Serum levels of IL-37were notably higher in patients with chronic viral hepatitis associated to healthy controls, with mean concentrations of 1.064 pg/ml versus 0.881 pg./ml, respectively (P = 0.011). The majority of the infected patients were male (61.0%), while females comprised 39.0%. Elevated liver enzymes, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), as well as increased total bilirubin levels, were observed in patients compared to controls.These findings indicate ongoing liver injury and dysfunction associated with chronic HBV and HCV infections. At a broad level, the findings indicate that higher levels of IL-37 are associated with certain indicators of liver dysfunction, suggesting that IL-37 might have an immune modulatory role in controlling inflammation and curtailing immune damage to tissues in chronic viral hepatitis. Still, it is possible that IL-37 may also help maintain viral persistence.