Cytokine response associated with Hepatitis E Virus infection in pregnancy

Abstract

Interferons serve as an important first line of defense, detecting the presence of active infections and activating signaling pathways that prompt the immune system to respond to invading pathogens. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the levels of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) in pregnant women who tested positive for hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection and those who did not.
One hundred and twenty-three (123) pregnant women were enrolled in the study. Blood samples were collected and screened for hepatitis E virus antigen (HEV Ag) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Sera from women who tested positive for HEV Ag were further analyzed to quantify interferon gamma concentrations using commercially available ELISA kits. The findings demonstrated that pregnant women infected with HEV had significantly higher concentrations of IFN-γ compared to their non-infected counterparts. Statistical analysis confirmed a strong association between HEV infection status and IFN-γ levels, indicating a marked difference in immune response between the two groups. Screening for Hepatitis E Virus should be incorporated into the health settings during pregnancy to enable early detection and management of infection.

Key words: Hepatitis E virus, Interferon gamma, Kano Metropolis