Study on the relationship between interleukin-4,interleukin-12 and interleukin-18 and intrauterine infection of hepatitis B virus

Abstract

Objective To study the relationship between interleukin(IL)-4,IL-12 and IL-18 and intrauterine infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV),in order to provide the basis for prevention and treatment.Methods Forty pregnant women with positive HBsAg and intrauterine infection of HBV were selected as study group,and 80 pregnant women with positive HBsAg and non-intrauterine infection of HBV were selected as control group.The levels of IL-4,IL-12,IL-18 were compared.Results The level of IL-4 was (51.56 ± 7.86) ng/L in study group,which was higher than that in control group [(31.67 ± 8.64) ng/L],and there was significant difference between two groups (P ＜0.01).The leveh ofIL-12 and IL-18 were (803.45 ± 132.64),(627.87 ± 134.38) ng/L in study group,which werelower than that in control group [(904.87 ± 231.86),(734.78 ± 165.67) ng/L],and there were significant differences between two groups (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions The levels of IL-4,IL-12,IL-18 are correlated with intrauterine infection of HBV.The increase of IL-4 and the decrease of IL-18,IL-12 may lead to positive HBsAg pregnant women happening intrauterine HBV infection. Key words: Interleukin-4; Interleukin-12; Interleukin-18; Hepatitis B virus; Intrauterine infection