title: A contributory role for activated hepatic stellate cells in the dynamics of Schistosoma japonicum egg-induced fibrosis.
abstract: The disease manifestations of schistosomiasis arise from the mammalian host-mediated type 2 T-helper cell-induced (Th2) fibro-granulomatous inflammatory response to eggs trapped within host tissues. Activated hepatic stellate cells are well described as the effector cells of hepatic fibrosis in a variety of human diseases and rodent models. The aim of this study was to further understand the mechanism of fibrosis and the role of hepatic stellate cells in hepatic schistosomiasis progression. Groups of female CBA mice, which produce an intermediate degree of Schistosoma japonicum-induced liver fibrosis, were infected with S. japonicum, perfused at fortnightly time points and the liver tissue and contained egg granulomas examined by immunohistochemistry and cytokine and chemokine analysis using quantitative PCR. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated the presence of activated hepatic stellate cells in the periphery of egg granulomas, adjacent to fibrotic areas. Time course analysis demonstrated that the transcription of smooth muscle actin-alpha type 1 collagen, IL-4, IL-13, IL-13Ralpha2 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 mirrored the initial increase and subsequent down-modulation of granuloma diameter in mice. However, the transcription of monocyte chemo-attractant protein-1, Regulated upon Activation Normal T Cell Expressed and Secreted (RANTES), TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma and matrix metalloproteinase-9 paralleled the evolution of the total liver disease burden. Transforming growth factor-beta1 transcription did not appear to be of biological significance in this mouse model. Immunohistochemical analysis of human hepatic granulomas showed close association of smooth muscle actin-alpha-expressing cells with fibrosis in five available cases of end-stage (advanced) schistosomiasis japonica. We conclude that activated hepatic stellate cells play a contributory role in the granulomatous, fibrotic process induced by S. japonicum eggs, both in the murine model and in human disease.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Division of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston Road, Herston, Qld 4029, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Bartley
authors.forename: Grant A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Ramm
authors.forename: Malcolm K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Richard G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Ruddell
authors.forename: Yuesheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Donald P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: McManus
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006099:Granuloma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000472:pathogenicity; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D024042:Collagen Type I