Schistosomal nephropathy: effect of cyclosporine A [Csa] in murine schistosomiasis mansoni

ABSTRACT

The effect of ciclosporin A [CsA] on schistosomal nephropathy in infected mice with Schistosomal mansoni [S. Mansonj] has been investigated. Infected mice were orally treated with 50 mg/kg body weight of CsA for 5 consecutive days at the 8[th], 12[th], 16[th] week postinfection [p.i.]. Four weeks after drug therapy, CsA aborted and retarded the progression of glomerular injury in all stages of the disease; particularly with early drug therapy. This was evidenced by the reduction in electron dense deposits and weak positivity by fluorescent microscope. This response was accompanied by amelioration of hepatosplenomegaly. The effects of CsA could be related to its known immunosuppressive effect on T-helper [Th] cells. Moreover, CsA had a profound anti-schistosomal activity as demonstrated by the significant decrease in worm burden specially female worms, and the increase in the percentage of mature and dead eggs in intestinal mucosa in this study. So, CsA would ameliorate the glomerular lesion in early stages of schistosomal nephropathy, mainly by its immunosuppressive effect, but in later stages, the direct anti-schistosomicidal effect would take the upper hand