[Expression of hepatic Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in schistosome-infected mice and the role of pentoxifylline].
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of hepatic Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in mice infected with Schistosoma japonicum and the role of pentoxifylline (PTX) in the expression.


METHODS
Forty mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: one normal control group,mice in the other three groups were all infected each with 25 cercariae, the infected control group was fed for 10 weeks after infection, and 2 weeks after infection, the high dose PTX group was given PTX 360 mg/(kg x d) for 8 weeks and the low dose PTX group was given PTX 180 mg/(kg x d)also for 8 weeks. At the end of 10 weeks all the mice were killed. Bcl-2 and Bax proteins expression was detected by immunohistochemisty.


RESULTS
Compared with the normal control group, the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax was significantly higher in the infected control group (P < 0.05). Bcl-2 was significantly higher in high (dose PTX group than in the infected control group and in low dose PTX group (P < 0.05). However there was no significant difference in the expression of Bax among the groups (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
PTX treatment can significantly increase the expression of Bcl-2 in liver tissue of schistosome-infected mice in a dose-dependent manner, and may play a role against liver inflammation and schistosomiasis-related liver fibrosis.
Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tong Ji Medical College, Hua Zhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
Ping
P
Wei
Duan-de
DD
Luo
Li-juan
LJ
Xiong
Ling-lan
LL
Zeng
D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
C494827:Bax protein, mouse; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D010431:Pentoxifylline