[Dynamic changes in collagen type I and collagen type III in rabbits infected with Schistosoma japonicum and the effect of gamma-interferon].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the dynamic changes in collagen type I and collagen type III in rabbits with schistosomiasis japonica and the treatment effect of gamma-interferon on the degradation of collagens in schistosomal hepatic fibrosis.


METHODS
Each rabbit was infected with 80 +/- 1 S. japonicum cercariae. Liver operations were done at different time points after infection and the liver specimens were embedded with paraffin and stained with alpha-SMA, HE and picric acid-Sirius red. The stained slides were observed under polarizing microscope and different collagen areas calculated by computer imagine analysis system. At the 16th week after infection, the infected rabbits received a single dose of praziquantel and gamma-interferon for 8 weeks.


RESULTS
The area percent of collagen type I at the 28th week after infection (40.14 +/- 17.00) increased about seven fold compared with the 8th week group (5.73 +/- 3.40). The area percent of collagen type III at the 28th week after infection (6.80 +/- 5.19) increased about six fold compared with the 8th week group (1.15 +/- 1.34). The alpha-SMA positive cells also increased significantly. After gamma-interferon treatment, the area percent of collagen type I and type III decreased significantly, from 18.51 +/- 7.52 and 4.63 +/- 3.64 (before treatment) to 3.09 +/- 1.54 and 0.40 +/- 0.37 (0 and 4 weeks after treatment) (P < 0.01). However, after the withdrawl of gamma-interferon treatment, the collagen degradation was reversible.


CONCLUSIONS
Gamma-interferon is effective in the treatment of hepatic fibrosis in rabbits infected with S. japonicum, the effect being reversible.
Weng
H L
HL
Institute of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003.
Cai
W M
WM
Yang
Y H
YH
D000818:Animals; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism*; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*
D024042:Collagen Type I; D024061:Collagen Type III; D007371:Interferon-gamma