The Role of Interferon Lambda in Hepatitis B infection

Abstract

Hepatitis B infection in the Mediterranean countries has a broad range of seroprevalence: from middle (≥2%) to high frequency (≥7%). However, Iraq was regarded as intermediate endemicity with 3% of HBsAg seroprevalence in normal population. Chronic HBV infection pathogenesis contributed to the host innate and adaptive immune responses. Innate immunity induces an antiviral state against infected cells by producing interferons. IFNL plays pivotal roles in host–pathogen interactions and reduces replication of HBV through limiting the creation of HBV RNA enclosing capsids. Sera of patients and controls was assessed for the levels of IgM to hepatitis B virus core antigen, IL-29, IL-28A and IL-28B using ELISA technique. In acute hepatitis B infected individuals, Anti-HBc IgM antibodies index unit mean were significantly higher than chronic with and without treatment, carrier patients and control. IL29, IL-28A and IL28B levels in the sera of patient groups showed differences than control group, while these differences were not significant indicating the virus replication and persistence in the infected cell correlated with IFNL levels