RESUMEN
Objective To investigate the expression characteristics of miR-155 and miR-146a in mice with schistosomiasis and praziquantel(PZQ)treatment. Methods Totally 40 BABL/c mice were divided into 4 groups:a normal group,a 6W infect-ed group that were infected cutaneously with 10 Schistosoma japonicum cercariae for 6 weeks,a 12W infected group that were in-fected cutaneously with 10 Schistosoma japonicum cercariae for 12 weeks,and a praziquantel treated group that were infected cuta-neously with 10 Schistosoma japonicum cercariae and intragastrically administered with PZQ(300 mg/kg/day)for 1 day in 6 weeks post-infection and continuing surviving 6 weeks. The animals were sacrificed in 6 weeks and 12 weeks post-infection respectively. The left front lobe of each liver was stained with hematoxylin-eosin(HE)to detect pathological lesions. The levels of mRNA ex-pressions of miR-155,miR-146a and pro-inflammatory cytokines(TNF-α,IL-1βand IL-6)in the liver tissue were determined by using quantitative real-time PCR. Results The levels of mRNA expressions of miR-155,miR-146a and pro-inflammatory cyto-kines(TNF-α,IL-1βand IL-6)in the 6W infected mice were significantly higher than those of the normal mice and of the 12W in-fected mice. Compared with the 12W infected mice,the inflammation response of liver egg granuloma in the PZQ-treated mice was ameliorated. Furthermore,there was a marked increase in the levels of mRNA expressions of miR-155,miR-146a and three pro-in-flammatory cytokines in the PZQ-treated mice compared to the 12W infected mice. Conclusion miR-155 and miR-146a may play a role in schistosomiasis liver inflammation response and the inflammation regulation of praziquantel treatment.