[The effect of gamma-interferon on hepatic fibrosis in schistosomiasis japonica].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of gamma-IFN on hepatic fibrosis in schistosomiasis japonica.


METHODS
The amount and distribution of gamma-IFN and extracellular matrix, including fibronectin (FN), laminin (LN), I and II collagen which were used to judge the suppressing effect of gamma-IFN on hepatic fibrosis as markers of dynamics of extracellular matrix after administration of recombinant gamma-IFN, in liver obtained at different stages from S. japonicum-infected mice were determined by immunohistochemical streptavidin biotin-peroxidase complex method.


RESULTS
The amount of gamma-IFN in liver reached a peak (3 mice respectively reached 2, 3 and 4 grade) at the 16th week after infection, which was higher than the levels of control groups and infected-mice at the 8-12th week (chi 2 = 15.39, 7.50, P < 0.01), and the majority of gamma-IFN was distributed round egg granuloma. FN and LN, and I and II collagen increased to 1 grade, individual 2 grade, at the 8th week after infection, which were higher than control (chi 2 = 12.44-15.39, P < 0.01), and were lineally distributed round egg granuloma. With chronicity and decrease of gamma-IFN, however, FN, LN and I, II collagen gradually increased, and reached a peak (over 70% infected mice reached 3-4 grade) respectively at the 20th week and 24th week, became wide, thick and retiform and deposited round and in egg granuloma. After administration of gamma-IFN, only 3 infected mice had 2 grade of FN at the 20th week, two mice had respectively 3 grade of type I and II collagen at the 24th week, and none of them reached 4 grade, which were significantly less than those in the untreated group at the same stage (chi 2 = 10.77, 5.05, 7.20, P < 0.01-0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that gamma-IFN may play an important role in opposing the inflammatory response of egg granuloma, decreasing secretion and deposition of extracellular matrix in liver and suppressing hepatic fibrosis.
He
Y
Y
Xiehe Hospital, Tongji Medical University, Wuhan.
Liu
W
W
Zeng
L
L
D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007797:Laminin / Q000378:metabolism; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000150:complications*
D005353:Fibronectins; D007797:Laminin; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D003094:Collagen