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Abstract
antiviral activity, primarily induced by interferon-alpha (IFN-α). Both are critical
components of the innate immune response against hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis
C virus (HCV). This study investigates sex-based differences in viperin gene expression
and IFN-α levels among patients infected with HBV and HCV
Methods: Eighty blood samples were collected from patients with confirmed HBV
(n=40) or HCV (n=40) infections in Thi-Qar, Iraq. IFN-α levels were measured using
ELISA, while viperin expression was assessed through qRT-PCR. Statistical analyses
were performed to compare values between male and female patients within each
infection group.
Results: In HCV patients, females showed slightly higher viperin expression and IFN
α levels compared to males, though the differences were not statistically significant.
However, in HBV patients, viperin expression was significantly higher in females than
males (p = 0.020), suggesting enhanced innate immune activation. IFN-α levels in HBV
patients did not differ significantly by sex.
Conclusion: The study highlights a significant sex-based difference in viperin
expression among HBV-infected patients, with higher levels in females, potentially
indicating a stronger innate immune response. No sex-related differences in IFN-α levels
were observed in either group. These findings suggest that sex-based immune
modulation, particularly in HBV, may inform personalized treatment approaches and
warrant further investigation.
Keywords
Article Details
Copyright (c) 2025 Huda Najem Abd , Ahmed Hasan Mohammed
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
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References
Ghosh, S., & Marsh, E. N. G. Viperin: An ancient radical SAM enzyme finds its place in modern cellular metabolism and
innate immunity. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2020; 295(33), 11513-11528.
Patel, A. M., & Marsh, E. N. G. The antiviral enzyme, viperin, activates protein ubiquitination by the E3 ubiquitin ligase,
TRAF6. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2021; 143(13), 4910-4914.
Schoggins, J. W., & Rice, C. M. Interferon-stimulated genes and their antiviral effector functions. Current opinion in
virology, 2011; 1(6), 519-525.
Patel, A. M., Koebke, K. J., Grunkemeyer, T. J., Riordan, C. M., Kim, Y., Bailey, R. C., & Marsh, E. N. G. Purification of
the full-length, membrane-associated form of the antiviral enzyme viperin utilizing nanodiscs. Scientific Reports,
; 12(1), 11909.
Kim, J. J., Kim, K. S., Eom, J., Lee, J. B., & Seo, J. Y. Viperin differentially induces interferon-stimulated genes in distinct
cell types. Immune Network, 2019; 19(5), e33.
Bai, X., Yang, H., Wan, L., Wang, P., Wang, H., Yang, X., ... & Dong, M. Involvement of viperin in prevention of intrauterine
transmission of hepatitis B virus. APMIS, 2017; 125(2): 170-175.
Ramos, T. I., Villacis-Aguirre, C. A., Santiago Vispo, N., Santiago Padilla, L., Pedroso Santana, S., Parra, N. C., & Alonso,
J. R. T. Forms and methods for interferon’s encapsulation. Pharmaceutics, 2021; 13(10), 1533.
Helbig, K. J., Eyre, N. S., Yip, E., Narayana, S., Li, K., Fiches, G., ... & Beard, M. R. The antiviral protein viperin inhibits
hepatitis C virus replication via interaction with nonstructural protein 5A. Hepatology, 2011; 54(5), 1506-1517.
Wieland, S. F., & Chisari, F. V. Stealth and cunning: hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses. Journal of virology, 2005; 79(15),
-9380.
Klein, S. L., & Flanagan, K. L. Sex differences in immune responses. Nature Reviews Immunology, 2016; 16(10), 626-638.
Ruggieri, A., Gagliardi, M. C., & Anticoli, S. Sex-dependent outcome of hepatitis B and C viruses infections: synergy of sex
hormones and immune responses?. Frontiers in Immunology, 2018; 9, 2302.
Agrawal, S., Salazar, J., Tran, T. M., & Agrawal, A. Sex-related differences in innate and adaptive immune responses to
SARS-CoV-2. Frontiers in Immunology,2012; 12, 739757.