CD5L as a potential immunomodulator in dengue severity

BACKGROUND OBJECTIVES: CD5L (CD5 antigen-like) is a secreted glycoprotein involved in immune regulation, macrophage polarization, and lipid metabolism. While its role in inflammatory and bacterial diseases has been described, its function in viral infections such as dengue virus (DENV) infection remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate serum CD5L levels in dengue-infected individuals and investigate its association with serological markers and disease severity. A cross-sectional study involving dengue-positive and dengue-negative individuals was conducted to compare serum CD5L concentrations and assess correlations with NS1, IgM, IgG status, and disease severity. METHODS: Serum samples were collected from confirmed dengue-positive patients and dengue-negative controls. CD5L concentrations were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and analyzed according to serological profiles (NS1, IgM, and IgG). Two-group comparisons were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test, and multiple groups were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test with Dunn's post hoc test. A p-value