Effect of excretory/secretory protein of Trichinella spiralis adult worm on CLP-induced sepsis in mice

Abstract

To observe the effect of excretory/secretory products from Trichinella spiralis adult worms (AES) on cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) -induced sepsis in mice. Forty-eight BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 3 groups：a sham operation group (PBS + sham group, Group A), a CLP-induced sepsis group (PBS+CLP group, Group B) and an AES treatment group (AES+CLP group, Group C). The mice of each group were intraperitoneally injected with 25 μg of AES or PBS only as a control in a total volume of 200 μl. Eight mice from each group were selected randomly for survival analysis of 96 hours. The other 8 mice in each group were observed for pathological changes in the lung, liver and kidney tissues by HE staining 12 h after CLP, and then determined for the detection of cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and TGF-β in the sera by ELISA. The difference among the survival rates of mice in the 3 groups was statistically significant (χ2 = 21.16, P < 0.05). Compared to Group A (100%), the survival rate of mice in Group B (0) decreased significantly (P < 0.05), and also the pathological damage degrees in the lung, liver and kidney tissues of the mice in Group B increased significantly after CLP. Compared with the mice in group B, the survival rate of those in Group C (70%) increased significantly (P < 0.05), and the pathological damage degrees in the lung, liver and kidney tissues of the mice in Group C decreased significantly after the treatment with AES. The differences among the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α (F = 27.11, P < 0.05), IL1β (F = 18.75, P < 0.05) and IL-6 (F = 100.93, P < 0.05) in the sera of the mice in the three groups were statistically significant. Compared with the mice in Group A, the levels of the 3 cytokines of those in Group B increased significantly (all P < 0.05). However, after the treatment with AES, the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines of those in Group C decreased significantly (all P < 0.05). The differences among the levels of immunoregulatory cytokines IL-10 (F = 10.88, P < 0.05) and TGF-β (F = 11.37, P < 0.05) in the sera of the mice in the three groups were also statistically significant. Compared with the mice in Group B, the levels of IL-10 and TGF-β of those in Group C were higher after treatment with AES (both P < 0.05). T. spiralis AES has a therapeutic potential for alleviating sepsis induced by CLP in mice.