Abstract: Objective　To explore the expression and significance of interleukin-33 (IL-33) and soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) in human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) hepatitis in infants. Methods　Forty infants with HCMV infection were selected, including 20 in hepatitis group and 20 in other diseases group, and 20 healthy infants in the same period were selected as the control group. The plasma levels of IL-33, sST2, IFN-γ and IL-4 were measured by ELISA, and the ratio of Th1 and Th2 cells in peripheral blood was measured by flow cytometry. Results　The plasma levels of IL33, sST2, IFN-γ, IL-4 and the proportion of Th1 and Th2 cells in HCMV-positive hepatitis group and other diseases group were higher than those in the control group, and they were higher in hepatitis group than in other diseases group. The levels of IFN-γ/IL-4 and Th1/Th2 in hepatitis group and other diseases group were lower than those in the control group, and they were lower in hepatitis group than in other diseases group. The differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Plasma IL-33 concentration in HCMV-positive hepatitis group was positively correlated with sST2 and IL-4 concentrations and the proportion of Th2 cell (P<0.05), while it was negatively correlated with the IFN-γ/IL-4 and Th1/Th2 (P<0.05). Conclusion Th1/Th2 imbalance exists in infants with HCMV hepatitis. IL-33 may be involved in Th2 dominant response and Th1/Th2 imbalance caused by HCMV infection.

Key words: 　cytomegalovirus;　hepatitis;　interleukin-33;　soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2;　Th1 cell;　Th2 cell;　 infant