Changes of interleukin-17 and interleukin-6 in BALB/C mice infected with Echinococcus multilocularis

Abstract

Objective To observe the dynamic expression of interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-6 and pathological features of the BALB/C mice livers infected with Echinococcus multilocularis (Em).Methods BALB/C mice were infected by intraperitoneal injection of a metacestode suspension (experimental mice) or the physiological saline ( control mice ),and the mouse liver samples and the serum were collected.The samples of mouse livers were subjected to Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE) staining.The dynamic changes in liver IL-17 and IL-6 expression in BALB/C mice infected with Em were analyzed immuno-histochemically.IL-17 was also determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results At different time points during the course of Em infection,pathological changes were observed in the liver of experimental groups,including inflammatory cell invasion,Kuffer cell proliferation,steatosis,necrosis,the formation of cyst wall,etc.In the experimental groups,the expression of IL-17 was positive at the 3rd month post-infection.There was significant difference in IL-17 between experimental group and control group at the 3rd,4th,6th and 10th month time points (P ＜ 0.05 ).The content of IL-17 was increased since 2nd month.The serum IL-17 contents at the 2nd,3rd,4th,10th groups were significantly higher than in the control group (P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusion The IL-17 and IL-6 expression in the liver of BALB/C mice infected with Em was increased and kept in a high level during the Em infection,and may result in the immune evasion and host immunopathogenesis injury. Key words: Echinococcus alveolaris; Infection; IL-17; IL-6