Assessment of IL-12 and Liver Enzyme Levels in Serum of Iraqi Patients with Hepatitis B Virus

Background: Chronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection leads to liver dysfunction through persistent inflammation and immune dysregulation. Cytokines such as interleukin-12 (IL-12) and liver enzymes including Alanine aminotransferase, Aspartate aminotransferase, Alkaline phosphatase, and Total serum bilirubin are critical markers for evaluating liver damage and immune activation. Objective: This study is aimed to assess the levels of IL-12 and hepatic enzymes in patients with HBV to explore their correlation with liver injury and immune response. Methods: A case-control study was conducted on 90 individuals (40 HBV patients and 50 healthy controls) in Kirkuk, Iraq. Serum IL-12 was quantified using a sandwich ELISA method (FineTest®, China; Cat. No: EH0565), and absorbance was measured using a BioTek® ELx800 microplate reader (Agilent Technologies, USA). Liver enzymes were analyzed via standard colorimetric assays. Results: Patients with HBV exhibited significantly elevated interleukin-12 (IL-12) levels (4707.21 pg/mL) compared to controls (1855.26 pg/mL; p < 0.000001). Similarly, liver enzyme levels were markedly higher in HBV patients than in healthy controls: alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was 46.13 IU/L vs. 21.91 IU/L (p = 0.000013), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was 47.75 IU/L vs. 22.08 IU/L (p = 0.000042), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was 194.57 IU/L vs. 87.49 IU/L (p = 0.000036), and total serum bilirubin (TSB) was 1.61 mg/dL vs. 0.69 mg/dL (p = 0.000029). Conclusion: Elevated IL-12 and liver enzyme levels suggest ongoing hepatic damage and immune dysregulation in HBV patients. These biomarkers may support early diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression in chronic HBV infection.