Evaluation of Interleukins 35 and 39 Levels in Women Infected With Cytomegalovirus

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common latent virus that can cause severe disease in immunocompromised individuals and pregnant women. Interleukins (ILs) are crucial for cell-to-cell communication and facilitate precise regulation of the immune response. The current study aimed to evaluate serum IL-35 and IL-39 levels in Iraqi women with CMV, particularly in pregnant women, and investigate their potential involvement in CMV infection and pregnancy. Serum samples were obtained from 115 women (age range:15–29 years), including CMV-infected pregnant women, uninfected pregnant women, CMV-infected non-pregnant women, and healthy non-pregnant women. IL-35 and IL-39 levels were measured using ELISA kits. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS, and differences between groups were evaluated using t-tests, ANOVA, and correlation analyses. IL-35 levels were significantly elevated in CMV patients compared to controls (P ≤ 0.001). The mean serum IL-35 level was higher in infected non-pregnant women (8.755 ± 0.641 ng/ml) than in infected pregnant women (6.329 ± 0.649 ng/ml). IL-39 levels were significantly higher in infected non-pregnant women (37.083 ± 5.910 pg/ml) and lowest in infected pregnant women (22.296 ± 2.323 pg/ml). Age-related differences in cytokine levels were observed, and a significant negative correlation was found between IL-35 and IL-39 in infected non-pregnant women (r = –0.707, p = 0.001). In conclusion, IL-35 and IL-39 may contribute to maintaining immune balance during CMV infection and pregnancy. Elevated IL-35 in CMV-infected women may reduce inflammation and promote immune tolerance, while lower IL-39 in infected pregnant women may reflect a weakened immune response and affect resistance against the virus.