[Excretory/secretory antigens from Clonorchis sinensis induces hepatic fibrosis in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of excretory/secretory antigens from Clonorchis sinensis (CsESAs) in hepatic fibrosis induced by C. sinensis infection in rats and explore the possible mechanism.


METHODS
CsESAs was collected from adult C. sinensis cultured in sterile condition for 12 h and injected intraperitoneally in Wistar rats. Masson staining was used to observe the changes in the hepatic collagen fiber after the injection. HE staining and immunofluorescence staining were performed to detect the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) to examine the proliferation and the activity of hepatic stellate cells. The specific antibody titer of CsESAs was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to investigate the role of the antigen-antibody complex in the development of hepatic fibrosis.


RESULTS
After intraperitoneal injection of CsESAs, obvious hepatic fibrosis and hepatic stellate cell proliferation and activation were observed in the rat livers. The severity of the hepatic fibrosis was associated with the dose of CsESAs injected, whereas the titer of the specific antibody against CsESAs showed no direct relation to the hepatic fibrosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Intraperitoneal injection of CsESAs can cause hepatic stellate cell activation and hepatic fibrosis in rats, but the antigen-antibody complex does not seem to play the key role in the activation of the hepatic stellate cells.
Hu
Feng-Yu
FY
Institute of Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou 8th People's Hospital, Guangzhou, China. fengyuhu72@yahoo.com.cn
Hu
Xu-Chu
XC
Ma
Chang-Ling
CL
Xu
Jin
J
Yu
Xin-Bing
XB
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology*; D003003:Clonorchiasis / Q000469:parasitology*; D003004:Clonorchis sinensis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D055166:Hepatic Stellate Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000199:Actins; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; C498862:Acta2 protein, rat