Echinococcus granulosus down regulates the hepatic expression of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF alpha in BALB/c mice.
Hydatid disease is caused by the metacestode of Echinococcus granulosus. Different experimental models have been used to understand hydatid disease. In current studies BALB/c mice were used to evaluate the hepatic response of IL-6 and TNF alpha triggered by Echinococcus granulosus. BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally infected with protoscoleces from E. granulosus; hydatid cysts appeared on the liver eight weeks after inoculation. The RNA extracted from hepatic sections was used for RT-PCR amplification with primers for IL-6, TNF alpha, IL-10, TGF beta and G3PDH. In situ cytokine expression was assessed by FISH. Complete parasite cysts on the liver surface were observed 16 weeks after infection; controls were negative. The expression of IL-6 and TNF alpha was normal at baseline and declined progressively eight weeks after infection; in some animals such expression was abrogated 16 weeks after infection. On the other hand IL-10 and TGF beta were increased progressively. Controls expressed the cytokines normally. Present results suggest that E. granulosus induces a local immunosupression probably mediated by IL-10 and TGF beta; therefore it seems possible that such a mechanism would assist the parasite in escaping the harmful host cell-mediated response.
Mondragón-de-la-Peña
C
C
Centro de Biología Experimental, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, México.
Ramos-Solís
S
S
Barbosa-Cisneros
O
O
Rodríguez-Padilla
C
C
Tavizón-García
P
P
Herrera-Esparza
R
R
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D004446:Echinococcus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology*; D008109:Liver Diseases, Parasitic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018510:RNA, Helminth / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D013997:Time Factors
D016207:Cytokines; D018510:RNA, Helminth