Abstract
BackgroundIn view of the potential immunosuppressive and regenerative properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), we investigated whether transplantation of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASC) could be used to control the granulomatous reaction in the liver of mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni after Praziquantel (PZQ) treatment.Methodology/Prinicpal findingsC57BL/6 mice infected with S. mansoni were treated with PZQ and transplanted intravenously with ASC from uninfected mice. Liver morpho-physiological and immunological analyses were performed. The combined PZQ/ASC therapy significantly reduced the volume of hepatic granulomas, as well as liver damage as measured by ALT levels. We also observed that ASC accelerated the progression of the granulomatous inflammation to the advanced/curative phase. The faster healing interfered with the expression of CD28 and CTLA-4 molecules in CD4+ T lymphocytes, and the levels of IL-10 and IL-17 cytokines, mainly in the livers of PZQ/ASC-treated mice.ConclusionsOur results show that ASC therapy after PZQ treatment results in smaller granulomas with little tissue damage, suggesting the potential of ASC for the development of novel therapeutic approaches to minimize hepatic lesions as well as a granulomatous reaction following S. mansoni infection. Further studies using the chronic model of schistosomiasis are required to corroborate the therapeutic use of ASC for schistosomiasis.
Highlights
Schistosomiasis is a helminthic infection that is associated with severe morbidity and has a significant socioeconomic impact on the affected populations
Our results show that adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASC) therapy after PZQ treatment results in smaller granulomas with little tissue damage, suggesting the potential of ASC for the development of novel therapeutic approaches to minimize hepatic lesions as well as a granulomatous reaction following S. mansoni infection
Further studies using the chronic model of schistosomiasis are required to corroborate the therapeutic use of ASC for schistosomiasis
Summary
Schistosomiasis is a helminthic infection that is associated with severe morbidity and has a significant socioeconomic impact on the affected populations. The chronic inflammation, induced mainly by soluble egg antigens (SEA) in the tissues, primed by Omega-1, a glycoprotein from SEA [11,12,13], leads to cellular production of regulatory Th2 cytokines resulting in the modulation of Th1 response and reduction of the granuloma size in most individuals. This immunological process is essential for controlling morbidity. In view of the potential immunosuppressive and regenerative properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), we investigated whether transplantation of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASC) could be used to control the granulomatous reaction in the liver of mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni after Praziquantel (PZQ) treatment
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