Structural changes and expression of hepatic fibrosis-related proteins in coculture of Echinococcus multilocularis protoscoleces and human hepatic stellate cells

Deping Cao,Yaogang Zhang,Mustafa Abdo Saif Dehwah,Emad Shamsan,Haining Fan,Bofan Jiang

doi:10.1186/s13071-021-05037-1

Abstract

BackgroundEchinococcus multilocularis is the causative agent of human hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (AE). AE can cause damage to several organs, primarily the liver, and have severe outcomes, such as hepatic failure and encephalopathy. The main purpose of this study was to explore the interactions between hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and E. multilocularis protoscoleces (PSCs). The results of this study provide an experimental basis for further examination of the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis due to AE infection.MethodsWe investigated the role of Echinococcus multilocularis (Echinococcus genus) PSCs in hepatic fibrosis by examining structural changes and measuring hepatic fibrosis-related protein levels in cocultures of PSCs and human HSCs. Structural changes were detected by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and levels of the hepatic fibrosis-related proteins collagen I (Col-I), alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and osteopontin (OPN) were measured by western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).ResultsUnder coculture (1) both PSCs and HSCs exhibited morphological changes, as observed by TEM; (2) Col-I, α-SMA, and OPN expression levels, which were determined by western blotting and ELISA, significantly increased after 3 days of incubation.ConclusionsThe results of this study provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of AE-induced hepatic fibrosis.Graphical abstract

Highlights

Echinococcus multilocularis is the causative agent of human hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (AE)
hepatic stellate cells (HSCs)‐LX2 promoted the growth of PSCs PSCs and HSC-LX2 were cocultured in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM) for 3 days to examine their interaction
The micrographs showed a slight change in the walls of the PSCs cocultured with HSC-LX2, as the walls of the PSCs cocultured with HSC-LX2, as the microcilia on the walls of E. multilocularis PSCs become shorter and cell structure disappearing and dissolved on day 3 compared with those of the PSC control (Fig. 1a, d, e, f )

Summary

Introduction

Echinococcus multilocularis is the causative agent of human hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (AE). AE can cause damage to several organs, primarily the liver, and have severe outcomes, such as hepatic failure and encephalopathy. The main purpose of this study was to explore the interactions between hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and E. multilocularis protoscoleces (PSCs). Alveolar echinococcosis (AE), one of the deadliest human diseases, is caused by Echinococcus multilocularis [1, 2] and is prevalent in most of the northern. The oncosphere produced during AE grows like a tumour, which is why it is referred to as “worm cancer”. It is impossible to completely remove the tumour because of its growth. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the interactions between the parasite and humans and the pathogenesis of AE is necessary to develop treatments for echinococcosis-induced liver damage

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