title: The effect of recombinant sTGFβ1RII and sIL13Rα2 receptor proteins on schistosomiasis japonica, hepatic fibrosis and signal transduction in a mouse model of schistosome disease.
abstract: This study was designed to investigate the effect of recombinant sTGFβ1RII and sIL13Rα2 receptor proteins on schistosomiasis japonica, hepatic fibrosis and the expression of SMAD3 and STAT6. The proteins sTGFβ1RII and sIL13Rα2 were expressed in Escherichiacoli, purified using affinity chromatography and characterized by Western blotting. Female BALB/C mice (48) were randomly divided into eight groups and infected with Schistosoma japonicum. Five weeks after infection, test groups were injected with the recombinant proteins at different doses. Eight weeks after infection, lung and hepatic tissue samples were obtained and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Masson's trichrome. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of SMAD3 and STAT6. The recombinant proteins sTGFβ1RII and sIL13Rα2 were successfully expressed, purified, and characterized. The granuloma area, hepatic hydroxyproline (HYP) level and hepatic fibrosis of the protein therapeutic groups were significantly smaller than those of the positive control group (P<0.01). Treatment with sTGFβ1RII was more effective when the protein was administered for 4weeks rather than 2 (P<0.01). Hepatic fibrosis in the groups using a low dose of protein sTGFβ1 was lower that of the combination group (P<0.05). The expression level of STAT6 was significantly lower in groups treated with sIL13Rα2 than in groups not treated with the protein (P<0.01). The recombinant proteins TGFβ1RII and sIL13Rα2 were able to decrease granuloma area and hepatic fibrosis in schistosomiasis japonica, and also reduced the expression of the signal transduction proteins SMAD3 and STAT6. The proteins were more effective when used in combination than when applied singly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, Anhui Medical University, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Luyang Regional Center for Disease Control & Prevention, Hefei City, Anhui Province, China.
authors.forename: Chaoqun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, Anhui Medical University, China. Electronic address: chudeyong@126.com.
authors.forename: Deyong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D039642:Eukaryotic Initiation Factors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000032:analysis; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000378:metabolism; D053663:Interleukin-13 Receptor alpha2 Subunit / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011897:Random Allocation; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D051785:Smad Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000099222:betaIG-H3 Protein
chemical_list: D039642:Eukaryotic Initiation Factors; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D006909:Hydroxyproline; D018793:Interleukin-13; D053663:Interleukin-13 Receptor alpha2 Subunit; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; D051785:Smad Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D000099222:betaIG-H3 Protein; C494100:Stat6 protein, mouse; C576121:TRIP-1 protein, mouse
keywords: Hepatic fibrosis; Schistosomiasis japonica; sIL13Rα2; sTGFβ1RII