Role of Toll-Like Receptor-3 (TLR3) and Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) in Iraqi patients with Hepatitis C virus | ||||
| Microbes and Infectious Diseases | ||||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 06 September 2025 | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/mid.2025.399112.2964 | ||||
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| Authors | ||||
Hassan M. Alazzawi   1; Ekhlass Noori Ali 2; Luma Ghaeb Alsaadi 2; Safaa A. Alwaisy 3
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| 1Tropical-Biological Research Unit, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq | ||||
| 2Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Mustansiriyah, Baghdad, Iraq | ||||
| 3Hepatology and Gastroenterology Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, affecting an estimated 58 million people worldwide, remains a critical public health issue. Key components of the innate immune response to HCV include Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), which play essential roles in antiviral defense. This study aimed to evaluate the serum levels of TLR3 and IFN-γ in Iraqi patients with acute and chronic HCV infection. Methods: A total of 50 HCV-positive patients were recruited from the Hepatology and Gastroenterology Teaching Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq. Patients were categorized into acute (infection duration <6 months) and chronic (infection duration >6 months) groups. In addition, 50 healthy individuals were included as the control group. Serum levels of TLR3 and IFN-γ were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27. Results: TLR3 levels were significantly lower in the acute HCV group compared to the chronic group and the healthy controls, suggesting impaired immune activation. However, IFN-γ levels did not differ significantly between the acute HCV, chronic HCV, and healthy control groups. Conclusion: These findings highlight the role of TLR3 in the immune response to HCV and suggest that reduced TLR3 expression may contribute to viral immune evasion. The absence of significant variation in IFN-γ levels may indicate its limited diagnostic value in distinguishing between phases of infection. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| TLR3; IFN-γ; Hepatitis C virus; Acute infection; Chronic infection | ||||
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