The role of the TGF-ß/LIF signaling pathway mediated by SMADs during the cyst formation of Echinococcus in young children.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to explore the correlation of the transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß), drosophila mothers against decapentaplegic protein gene (SMAD) 2/3/4, and leukemia inhibitory factors (LIF) with the cyst formation of hepatic Echinococcus granulosus in young children. METHODS: A total of 40 patients who met the diagnostic criteria for children's hydatid disease in people's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region between January 2020 and June 2021 were enrolled a s the study subjects. The cystic fluid of these children was collected as the case group and the corresponding infected viscera or pericystic tissue as the control group, with 40 cases in each group. In vitro cultured protoscolice of hydatid cyst, four groups including control group, LIF siRNA group, LIF factor group and SMAD4 siRNA group were divided by inhibiting TGF-ß/SMADs signal pathway. Each assay was performed in triplicate. The expression of TGF-ß, SMAD2/3/4 and LIF were detected. RESULTS: The results of the clinical trial showed that the contents of SMAD2 and SMAD3 were increased in the case group compared with the control group; the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The expression levels of TGF-ß, Smad4, and LIF increased in the case group compared with the control group; however, the differences were not statistically significant. The results of further in vitro experiments, the expression levels of TGF-ß, SMAD 2/3/4, and LIF after adding siRNA to interfere with Smad4 decreased in the case group compared with the control group; the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression levels of TGF-ß, SMAD2/3/4, and LIF increased after treatment with added LIF in the case group, and the expression levels of TGF-ß, SMAD2/3/4, and LIF decreased after adding siRNA to interfere with LIF in the case group; the differences were all statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: SMAD2 and SMAD3 have a certain clinical relevance with hydatidosis in young children. The LIF expression level may be related to the cystic transformation of protoscoleces. It has been suggested that the TGF-ß/Smads/LIF signaling pathway may be present in the process of protoscoleces cyst formation; this provides a research basis for the prevention and treatment of post-infection parasitism of E. multilocularis eggs in young children.

Pediatric hydatidosis in the south-east of the Buenos Aires province, Argentina / Hidatidosis pediátrica en el sudeste de la provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina

Hydatidosis is a zoonosis produced by the metacestode Echinococcus spp. The aims of this research are: to contribute to the knowledge of pediatric hydatidosis in the south-east of Buenos Aires province, to study its evolution from 1993 to 2002 at the Regional Maternity and Pediatric Hospital "Dr. Victorio Tetamanti", to determine the strains involved and to discuss the importance of the disease. The clinical records of diagnosed and/or operated patients were reviewed with regard to the hydatid disease. The strain was determined by using PCRs with Eg1 121a/122a primers. Forty-four cases were analyzed. Fifty nine point one per cent of the patients were boys. The mean age was 8 SD=3.8 years. Sixty one point four per cent had urban residence. Ultrasonography was used in 61% of the cases. The hepatic location was most frequently seen and the liver/lung ratio was 1.25. Ninety point nine per cent of patients received surgical treatment. Albendazole was used in 52% of cases. The average hospitalization time was 11 days. The Gl/G2 strain group was determined. This report is the first one of its kind in the studied region. The permanence of hydatidosis in the region depends on the natural transmission of the parasite in the absence of control and prevention measures. The health authorities should implement strategies of prevention and control in the study area.

Los objetivos de este trabajo fueron: contribuir al conocimiento de la hidatidosis pediátrica en el sudeste de la provincia de Buenos Aires, estudiar su evolución desde 1993 hasta 2002, establecer la o las cepas involucradas y discutir la importancia de la enfermedad. Para ello se revisaron las historias clínicas de los pacientes pediátricos con diagnóstico de hidatidosis asistidos en el Hospital Interzonal Especializado Materno Infantil "Dr. Victorio Tetamanti" durante ese período. Se analizaron 44 casos, el 59,1% de ellos correspondió a varones. La media de edad fue de 8 años (SD=3,8 años) y el 61,4% de los niños afectados eran de residencia urbana. Se empleó ultrasonografía como método diagnóstico en el 61% de los casos. La localización hepática fue la más frecuente y la relación hígado/pulmón fue 1,25. El 90,9% recibió tratamiento quirúrgico. Se utilizó albendazol en el 52% de los pacientes. El tiempo de hospitalización tuvo una mediana de 11 días. Las cepas se determinaron mediante PCR con los cebadores Eg1 121a/122a. Se determinó la presencia de cepas del grupo G1/G2, dato informado por primera vez en humanos para la región de estudio. Se concluyó que la permanencia de la enfermedad en la región depende de la transmisión natural del parásito en ausencia de medidas de control y prevención. Por consiguiente, las autoridades de salud deberían implementar estrategias de prevención y control en dicha zona.