Schistosoma mansoni: egg-induced downregulation of hepatic stellate cell activation and fibrogenesis

Anthony, BJ, Mathieson, W, de Castro-Borges, W and Allen, JT 2010, 'Schistosoma mansoni: egg-induced downregulation of hepatic stellate cell activation and fibrogenesis' , Experimental parasitology, 124 (4) , pp. 409-420.

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Abstract

Eggs of Schistosoma mansoni trapped in human liver can lead to fibrosis. Since liver fibrosis requires activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) from a quiescent to a myofibroblastic phenotype, we investigated the effects of S. mansoni eggs on this process using in vitro co-cultures with human HSC and evaluated established biomarkers for activation and fibrosis. HSC demonstrate significantly reduced expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (p<0.001), connective tissue growth factor (p<0.01) and type I collagen (p<0.001) but significantly increased expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (p<0.01). Morphologically, HSC exhibited elongated fine cellular processes and reduced size, increased accumulation of lipid droplets and reduced expression and organization of alpha-smooth muscle actin and F-actin stress fibres. Additionally, schistosome eggs prevented the HSC fibrogenic response to exogenous transforming growth factor-beta. In summary, schistosome eggs blocked fibrogenesis in HSC, a finding which may have implications for our understanding of the fibrotic pathology in S. mansoni infections.

Item Type:	Article
Themes:	Health and Wellbeing
Schools:	Schools > School of Environment and Life Sciences > Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre
Journal or Publication Title:	Experimental parasitology
Publisher:	Elsevier
Refereed:	Yes
ISSN:	1090-2449
Depositing User:	JT Allen
Date Deposited:	06 Oct 2011 09:20
Last Modified:	08 Aug 2017 22:55
URI:	http://usir.salford.ac.uk/id/eprint/17907

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