RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression level of IL-32 in serum and its correlation with serum biochemical indices of liver function test and HBV DNA load in patients with HBV-related liver failure.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-five patients with HBV-related liver failure (severe hepatitis group) and twenty normal cases (control group) were enrolled in the study. Total RNA in PBMCs was extracted by using TRIzol. IL-32 mRNA level was assayed by using Real-time PCR. IL-32 protein level in serum was detected by ELSIA method. The correlation between IL-32 and ALT, AST, TBIL, HBV DNA load was analyzed using pearson's correlation analysis, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Serum IL-32 expression level in severe hepatitis group was higher than that of control group. Moreover, the difference between them was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Serum IL-32 level was positively correlated with serum ALT, AST, TBIL, respectively (P < 0.05), but was not correlated with HBV DNA load (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Serum IL-32 expression level was increased in patients with HBV-related liver failure and was associated with the severity of inflammation. We, therefore, believe that IL-32 might be involved in the pathogenesis of HBV-related liver failure.</p>