title: Low transformation growth factor-β1 production and collagen synthesis correlate with the lack of hepatic periportal fibrosis development in undernourished mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni.
abstract: Undernourished mice infected (UI) submitted to low and long-lasting infections by Schistosoma mansoni are unable to develop the hepatic periportal fibrosis that is equivalent to Symmers' fibrosis in humans. In this report, the effects of the host's nutritional status on parasite (worm load, egg viability and maturation) and host (growth curves, biology, collagen synthesis and characteristics of the immunological response) were studied and these are considered as interdependent factors influencing the amount and distribution of fibrous tissue in hepatic periovular granulomas and portal spaces. The nutritional status of the host influenced the low body weight and low parasite burden detected in UI mice as well as the number, viability and maturation of released eggs. The reduced oviposition and increased number of degenerated or dead eggs were associated with low protein synthesis detected in deficient hosts, which likely induced the observed decrease in transformation growth factor (TGF)-β1 and liver collagen. Despite the reduced number of mature eggs in UI mice, the activation of TGF-β1 and hepatic stellate cells occurred regardless of the unviability of most miracidia, due to stimulation by fibrogenic proteins and eggshell glycoproteins. However, changes in the repair mechanisms influenced by the nutritional status in deficient animals may account for the decreased liver collagen detected in the present study.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Imunologia e Biologia Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa Aggeu Magalhães-Fiocruz, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Andreia Ferreira
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Imunologia e Biologia Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa Aggeu Magalhães-Fiocruz, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Sheilla Andrade
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Imunologia e Biologia Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa Aggeu Magalhães-Fiocruz, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Camila Lima
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Tropical, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Fabiana Leticia
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Imunologia e Biologia Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa Aggeu Magalhães-Fiocruz, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Veruska Cintia Alexandrino de
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Imunologia e Biologia Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa Aggeu Magalhães-Fiocruz, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Anekecia Lauro da
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Imunologia e Biologia Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa Aggeu Magalhães-Fiocruz, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Roni Evencio de
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Araujo
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Engenharia Tecidual e Imunofarmacologia, Centro de Pesquisa Gonçalo Moniz-Fiocruz, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
authors.forename: Bruno Solano F
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Engenharia Tecidual e Imunofarmacologia, Centro de Pesquisa Gonçalo Moniz-Fiocruz, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
authors.forename: Milena Botelho Pereira
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Tropical, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Vlaudia M A
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Imunologia e Biologia Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa Aggeu Magalhães-Fiocruz, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Eridan de Medeiros
authors.initials: Ede M
authors.lastname: Coutinho
mesh_terms: D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction / Q000209:etiology; D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004531:Eggs / Q000032:analysis; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015745:Granuloma, Foreign-Body / Q000469:parasitology; D007422:Intestines / Q000469:parasitology; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000469:parasitology*; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications / Q000469:parasitology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010058:Oviposition / Q000276:immunology; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000469:parasitology; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000276:immunology*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D003094:Collagen