Background and objective: The specific cellular immune responses play a main role in the hepatic necrosis that occurs with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Interferon-g (IFN-g) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) are considered examples on T helper 1(Th1) cytokines which required for host antiviral immune response and involved in cell-mediate immunity against HBV infection. This study was designed to estimation T-helper 1 cytokines (IFN-g and IL-2) in HBV infected patients and individuals vaccinated with recombinant HB vaccine. Methods: The study groups were classified into patient group 35 (15 acute hepatitis (AH) and 20 chronic hepatitis(CH)) and 35 vaccinated group (20 responder (RD) and 15 Nonresponder (NRD)) and 18 control group, during May to November 2007. Blood samples were taken from patients and hospitals staffs in Nanakaly, Erbil and Rizgary Teaching Hospital to detect hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti hepatitis core antibody IgM (Anti- HBc Ab(IgM)), Anti-HBs Ab, IFN-g level and IL-2 level in serum by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The concentration of IFN-g and IL-2 levels in the AH group differed significantly compared with healthy control and CH patients (p<0.01) by F-test. LSD-analysis for IFN-g also revealed same result while IL-2 level significantly increased in healthy control only. Ftest for IFN-g revealed (p<0.05) among RD group, NRD group and healthy non vaccinated (HN) control in ≥30 and <30 years old respectively but inverse result was observed in IL-2 levels (p>0.05).

Background and objective: Rotavirus is the most important cause of severe diarrhea in children worldwide. We have investigated that certain cytokines especially interleukin- 8 (IL-8) as a chemokine, may play an important role in the pathogenesis of and the protection against rotavirus disease in children. The purpose of this study was to reveal the association between IL-8 and child diarrhea with rotavirus. Methods: Stool samples were collected from 150 children under 5 years of age who developed diarrhea and 45 from non-diarrheic children of equivalent age. All samples were detected for rotavirus and serum IL-8 level. The study was undertaken from May to December of 2006. Enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) was applied for detection rotavirus and IL-8. Results: Among the children, female patients with breast feeding were less infected with rotavirus compared to males with artificial and mixed feeding. The IL-8 concentration was highly significantly between the study groups (P< 0.01). Regarding the gender, serum IL-8 level was significantly higher in males than females (P<0.05). However, no significance prevalence in IL-8 level was recorded between gender in healthy control group (P >0.05). Conclusion: Rotavirus infection induces the expression of chemokines as IL-8. These data support the hypothesis that chemokine secretion may play a role in the initiation and modulation of the immune response to rotavirus infection.