title: Immunohistopathological changes in murine Schistosomiasis mansoni under the influence of N-acetyl-L-cysteine.
abstract: The main pathology associated with Schistosomiasis mansoni is granulomatous inflammation that may develop into hepatosplenic disease with fibrosis and hepatoesplenomegaly. It is known that N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) reduces tissue damage in chronic liver diseases owing to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and detoxifying properties. In this study, we investigated the imunohistopathological changes in murine schistosomiasis mansoni under the influence of NAC, in combination with Praziquantel (PZQ) or not. Three groups of mice were formed to evaluate the effects of NAC during infection in the acute, intermediate, and chronic phases. Each group was further subdivided into four subgroups: NAC, PZQ, NAC + PZQ and control (without treatment). Oral administration of NAC (200 mg/kg/day) was carried out on the first day after infection for the acute phase and on the 45th for the intermediate and chronic phases for 59 and 45, 75 days, respectively. PZQ (100 mg/kg/day), was given orally by gavage from the 45th to 49th day after infection. Histopathological analysis of liver tissue provided evidence that combined NAC + PZQ treatment reduced the development of granulomas observed in the chronic phase. Animals treated with NAC and/or PZQ showed a reduction in the size of granulomas and all those treated with NAC exhibited a lower degree of fibrosis. In all groups, NAC decreased the synthesis of interferon-γ and nitric oxide, while increasing the levels of interleukin-10, but it did not influence the production of interleukin-4. On the whole, NAC treatment induced an immunomodulatory effect and reduced liver damage during the granulomatous inflammation in S. mansoni-infected mice.
authors: Laboratório de Imunopatologia Keizo Asami (LIKA), Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors: André
authors: A
authors: de Lima Aires
authors: Mônica Camelo Pessôa
authors: MC
authors: de Azevedo Albuquerque
authors: Renata Alexandre Ramos
authors: RA
authors: Silva
authors: Giuliana Viegas
authors: GV
authors: Schirato
authors: Nicodemos Teles
authors: NT
authors: de Pontes Filho
authors: Sidcley Bernardino
authors: SB
authors: de Araújo
authors: Valdênia Maria Oliveira
authors: VM
authors: Souza
authors: Vlaudia Maria Assis
authors: VM
authors: Costa
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Malagueño
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000473:pathology; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D011223:Praziquantel; D000111:Acetylcysteine