Expression of IL-1β, HMGB1, HO-1, and LDH in malignant and non-malignant pleural effusions

IL-1β, HMGB1, HO-1, and LDH in the pleural effusions (PE) of patients with transudative, infectious, and malignant etiologies were determined using ELISA and enzymatic assays. IL-1β, HMGB1, HO-1, and LDH showed significant differences between the three etiologies. Post-hoc analysis revealed higher levels of HO-1 and HMGB1 in infectious versus transudative effusion. Higher levels of IL-1β were found in infectious versus transudative or malignant effusion. The comparison of LDH levels showed significant differences. Positive correlations were found between IL-1β, HMGB1, and LDH in infectious effusions. The samples were then divided into cancerous and non-cancerous groups, and logistic regression revealed that increasing IL-1β levels were significantly associated with a decrease in cancer risk after adjusting for HMGB1, HO-1, and LDH. Our findings suggest that IL-1β, HMGB1, HO-1, and LDH are expressed differently, with positive correlations between HMGB1, IL-1β, and LDH in infectious effusions, and low IL-1β expression in malignant effusions.