Serum level of STAT1, Interleukin (IL)-6, and Hepcidin in patients infected with cutaneous leishmaniasis | ||
| Microbes and Infectious Diseases | ||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 19 September 2025 | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/mid.2025.414345.3119 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Ali Mohammed Abed* ; Riham Firas Faris* ; Umer Jameel Ibrahim* | ||
| Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Tikrit, Tikrit, Iraq | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a protozoal skin infection with immune-mediated pathophysiology. Objective: To compare serum levels of STAT1, IL-6, and hepcidin between CL patients and healthy controls and to explore their potential as immunologic biomarkers in CL (in Iraq). Methods: Cross-sectional study including 60 patients and 30 healthy controls. Serum STAT1 (pg/mL), IL-6 (ng/mL), and hepcidin (ng/mL) were quantified by sandwich ELISA. Results: STAT1 was lower in patients vs controls (62.04 ± 48.14 vs 89.05 ± 61.93 pg/mL; p = 0.0182; 95% CI: 49.61–74.47 vs 65.93–112.17; Cohen’s d = 0.51). IL-6 was lower in patients (13.58 ± 5.46 vs 18.52 ± 7.26 ng/mL; p = 0.0005; 95% CI: 12.17–14.99 vs 15.81–21.23; d = 0.81). Hepcidin was higher in patients (10.45 ± 4.16 vs 7.76 ± 2.76 ng/mL; p = 0.003; 95% CI: 9.38–11.52 vs 6.73–8.79; d = 0.72). Conclusion: CL is associated with decreased STAT1 and IL-6 and elevated hepcidin compared with controls. These biomarkers may help in understanding CL immunopathology and could have potential utility in disease monitoring; larger longitudinal studies are warranted. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Cutaneous Leishmaniasis; STAT1; Interleukin (IL) -6; Hepcidin | ||
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