ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The growth pattern of Echinococcus granulosus is different from that of Echinococcus alveolaris. Hepatic echinococcosis can form a complete fibrous calcified cyst wall, while hepatic alveolar echinococcosis can grow infiltratively and cannot form a complete fibrous calcified cyst wall. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are involved in the formation of calcified wall of hydatidosis, but the calcification characteristics of Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus alveolaris are different and the role of BMSCs is still unclear. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus alveolaris on the calcification of BMSCs and to preliminarily investigate the formation mechanism of echinococcosis calcifications. METHODS: BMSCs of C57BL/6 mice were extracted, cultured and identified, followed by co-culture with the protoscolex of Echinococcus granulosus (BMSC+CE group) and Echinococcus alveolaris (BMSC+AE group), respectively. BMSCs cultured alone were used as control group. After 1, 4, and 7 days of co-culture, alkaline phosphatase activity was detected by a microplate reader, the expression of BMP2 and RUNX2 mRNA was detected by RT-q PCR, and the expression of BMP2, RUNX2 and phosphorylated Smad1/5/8 (P-Smad1/5/8) proteins was detected by western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The alkaline phosphatase activity of the BMSC+CE group and BMSC+AE group was significantly higher than that of the control group at 1 and 4 days after culture (P < 0.05), and the alkaline phosphatase activity of the BMSC+CE group was significantly higher than that of BMSC+AE group (P < 0.05). (2) Western blot results showed that the expression of BMP2, RUNX2, and P-Smad1/5/8 protein in the BMSC+CE group and BMSC+AE group was significantly higher than that in the control group at 1 and 4 days after culture (P < 0.05), while the expression of BMP2, RUNX2, and P-Smad1/5/8 protein in the BMSC+CE group was significantly higher than that in the BMSC+AE group (P < 0.05). (3) RT-qPCR results showed that the expression of BMP2 and RUNX2 mRNA in the BMSC+CE group was significantly higher than that in the control group at 1, 4 and 7 days after culture (P < 0.05), and was significantly higher than that in the BMSC+AE group at 4 and 7 days after culture (P < 0.05). The expression of RUNX2 mRNA in the BMSC+AE group was significantly higher than that in the control group at 1, 4, and 7 days after culture (P < 0.05). (4) To conclude, co-culture of the protoscolex of Echinococcus alveolaris and BMSCs promotes the expression of alkaline phosphatase and RUNX2 in BMSCs by up-regulating BMP-Smad1/5/8 pathway. At the later stage of co-culture, the effect of Echinococcus alveolaris on BMSCs calcification is significantly weakened, while the effect of Echinococcus granulosus on BMSCs calcification remains unchanged, suggesting that this mechanism may be related to the different growth patterns of two kinds of hydatids.
ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the dynamic change of immune response in mice infected with Echinococcus alveolaris(AE) at difference period of time, and to explore hostalveo’s immune regulation. Methods The infection lasted and was followed up for 25 weeks. The spleen cells from BALB/c mice infected with AE stimulated with EmAg and ConA or PHA in vitro . IL-2R, IFN-?, TNF-?, IL-1 and specific IgG subclasses were determined by ELISA. NO was tested by chemical assay. Results NO level sharply rised in 16 weeks after BALB/c mice were infected with AE. The levels of IgG1 and IgG3 significantly increased 8 weeks after infection, and remained elevating throughout the period of observation. IgG3 showed slight increase, IgG2a and IgG2b appeared low level following infection. The production of IL-2R and TNF? increased significantly 8 weeks of infection, while IL-2R sharply decreased in 12 weeks of infection. During the period of 2-12 weeks of infection there was an increase in IL-1 secreting. The level of IL-1 and TNF? rapidly increased since 16 weeks post infection. High level of IFN-? was detected during the period of observation, and showed a peak at 12 weeks. Conclusion Th1 is the major response in the early stage of infection,which is replaced by Th2 response in later period of infection.