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Liu C, Fisher D, Pronyuk K, Musabaev E, Thu Hien NT, Dang Y, Zhao L. Therapeutic potential of natural products in schistosomiasis-associated liver fibrosis. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1332027. [PMID: 38770001 PMCID: PMC11102961 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1332027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that endangers human health and social development. The granulomatous reaction of Schistosoma eggs in the liver is the main cause of hepatosplenomegaly and fibrotic lesions. Anti liver fibrosis therapy is crucial for patients with chronic schistosomiasis. Although Praziquantel is the only clinical drug used, it is limited in insecticide treatment and has a long-term large-scale use, which is forcing the search for cost-effective alternatives. Previous research has demonstrated that plant metabolites and extracts have effective therapeutic effects on liver fibrosis associated with schistosomiasis. This paper summarizes the mechanisms of action of metabolites and some plant extracts in alleviating schistosomiasis-associated liver fibrosis. The analysis was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases. Some plant metabolites and extracts ameliorate liver fibrosis by targeting multiple signaling pathways, including reducing inflammatory infiltration, oxidative stress, inhibiting alternate macrophage activation, suppressing hepatic stellate cell activation, and reducing worm egg load. Natural products improve liver fibrosis associated with schistosomiasis, but further research is needed to elucidate the effectiveness of natural products in treating liver fibrosis caused by schistosomiasis, as there is no reported data from clinical trials in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuiling Liu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - David Fisher
- Department of Medical Biosciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - Khrystyna Pronyuk
- Infectious Diseases Department, O.Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Erkin Musabaev
- The Research Institute of Virology, Ministry of Health, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | | | - Yiping Dang
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Lei Zhao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Zhou Z, Li J, Jiang J, Luo Y, Yingzi M. Characteristics of peripheral lymphocyte subsets in patients with different stages of schistosomiasis japonica. Parasite Immunol 2023; 45:e13006. [PMID: 37551055 DOI: 10.1111/pim.13006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Immune cells are important for the development of schistosomiasis japonica and are also critical for the treatment of schistosomiasis. The immune cells in the peripheral blood help assess the immune state. The peripheral lymphocytes in schistosomiasis mansoni were well studied; however, immune cells in patients with different stages of schistosomiasis japonica are not well analysed. Here, we performed a preliminary study to explore characteristics of peripheral lymphocyte subsets in patients with different stages of schistosomiasis japonica. 135 patients with Schistosoma japonicum infection and 25 healthy volunteers were included in this study, including 84 patients with chronic S. japonicum infection and 51 patients with advanced S. japonicum infection. Flow cytometry analysis was performed to evaluate peripheral lymphocytes including T cells, B cells, and natural killer (NK) cells. Blood routine and liver function test data were analysed. Ultrasound examination was used to access liver fibrosis according to the World Health Organization standard about ultrasound in schistosomiasis. Demographic data analysis suggested there was no difference in age and gender in patients with S. japonicum infection and health control group. Liver function tests showed that patients with advanced schistosomiasis had a higher incidence of liver function abnormality and blood lipid than those with chronic schistosomiasis. Blood routine results reflected that haemoglobin, red blood cells, platelets, as well as lymphocytes in the advanced group were significantly less than that in the chronic group. Furthermore, flow cytometry analysis indicated that the percentage of CD4+ T cells was lower in the advanced group, but the percentage of CD19+ B cells was higher in the advanced group. In addition, the number of CD3+ T cells, CD3+ CD4+ T cells, CD3+ CD8+ T cells, and NK cells was less in the advanced group when compared with those in the chronic group. In addition, there was a correlation between the decrease in CD4+ T cells and more severe fibrosis on ultrasound images. Our results indicated that the immune state in the peripheral is different in different stages of S. japonicum infection. Lymphocyte subset analysis has potential to facilitate differential diagnosis of different stages of schistosomiasis japonica and even to be a prognostic factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoqin Zhou
- Center for Organ Transplantation, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Junhui Li
- Center for Organ Transplantation, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jie Jiang
- Center for Organ Transplantation, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yulin Luo
- Center for Organ Transplantation, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ming Yingzi
- Center for Organ Transplantation, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Sun J, Wu M, Wang L, Wang P, Xiao T, Wang S, Liu Q. miRNA-21, which disrupts metabolic reprogramming to facilitate CD4 + T cell polarization toward the Th2 phenotype, accelerates arsenite-induced hepatic fibrosis. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 248:114321. [PMID: 36427370 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Elevated levels of arsenic may be present in groundwater, and long-term exposure to arsenic increases hepatic fibrosis. T helper 2 (Th2) cells are involved in the fibrotic cascade, and cell metabolism is a regulatory factor participating in CD4+ T cell differentiation and function. However, the mechanism for Th2 cell regulation of arsenite-induced hepatic fibrosis is not fully understood. In present study, for arsenite-fed mice, activated hepatic stellate cells may be involved in the infiltration of CD4+ T cells, accompanied by up-regulation of GATA3, a transcription factor, and IL-13, the major Th2 cytokine. Exposed to arsenite, Jurkat cells had increased aerobic glycolysis to promote the cell cycle and cell proliferation. Further, this process elevated levels of marker molecules, including those of the Th2 paradigm characterized by GATA3, IL-4, and IL-13. LX-2 cells were activated when treated with culture medium from Jurkat cells exposed to arsenite. miR-21 may be a therapeutic target for arsenite-induced hepatic fibrosis. In vitro, miR-21 knock-down caused inhibition of the PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway induced by arsenite. It also reversed the elevated glycolysis and the accelerated cell cycle and cell proliferation. Indeed, this alteration led to diminished expression of GATA3, IL-4, and IL-13 in T cells differentiated under Th2 conditions, which inhibits activation of LX-2 cells. Consistent with the results in vitro, miR-21 knock-out in mice reversed hepatic fibrosis and attenuated the levels of GATA3 and IL-13 induced by arsenite. These findings indicate that miR-21 regulates the glycolysis of CD4+ T cells through the PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway to accelerate the cell cycle, thereby facilitating CD4+ T cell polarization toward Th2 and releasing the fibrogenic factor IL-13, which participates in arsenite-associated hepatic fibrosis. Inhibition of Th2 polarization of CD4+T cells or miR-21 could be a therapeutic strategy to combat hepatic fibrosis caused by exposure to arsenic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Sun
- Center for Global Health, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Suzhou Institute of Public Health, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China; Department of Nutrition, Clinical Assessment Center of Functional Food, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Meng Wu
- Center for Global Health, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Suzhou Institute of Public Health, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China; Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Baotou Medical College, Baotou 014040, Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China
| | - Peiwen Wang
- Center for Global Health, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Suzhou Institute of Public Health, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China; Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Tian Xiao
- Center for Global Health, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Suzhou Institute of Public Health, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China; Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Suhua Wang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Baotou Medical College, Baotou 014040, Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China.
| | - Qizhan Liu
- Center for Global Health, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Suzhou Institute of Public Health, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China; Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
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Zhang L, Wang L, Xiang S, Hu Y, Zhao S, Liao Y, Zhu Z, Wu X. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene knockout of Sj16 in Schistosoma japonicum eggs upregulates the host-to-egg immune response. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22615. [PMID: 36273308 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202200600rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is an important, neglected tropical disease. Schistosoma japonicum can evade host attacks by regulating the host's immunity, causing continuous infection. However, interactions between the host's immune system and S. japonicum are unclear. Our previous research found that the Sj16 protein isolated from S. japonicum has an anti-inflammatory effect in the host. However, the role of Sj16 in the regulation of host immunity in S. japonicum infection is not clear. Here, we applied the CRISPR/Cas9 technique to knockout Sj16 in S. japonicum eggs and investigated the effect of Sj16 in regulating host immunity. We found egg viability decreased after Sj16 knockout. In addition, we found granulomatous inflammation increased, the T-cell immune response enhanced and the immune microenvironment changed in mice model injected with Sj16-knockout eggs by tail vein. These findings suggested that S. japonicum could regulate host immunity through Sj16 to evade the host immune attack and cause continuous infection. In addition, we confirmed the application of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene reprogramming for functional genomics in S. japonicum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lichao Zhang
- Department of Parasitology of Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Biological Vector Control, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lifu Wang
- Department of Parasitology of Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Clinical Rapid Diagnosis and Early Warning of Infectious Diseases, KingMed School of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Suoyu Xiang
- Department of Parasitology of Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Biological Vector Control, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yunyi Hu
- Department of Parasitology of Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Biological Vector Control, Guangzhou, China
| | - Siyu Zhao
- Department of Parasitology of Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Biological Vector Control, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yao Liao
- Department of Parasitology of Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Biological Vector Control, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zifeng Zhu
- Department of Parasitology of Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Biological Vector Control, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoying Wu
- Department of Parasitology of Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Gastroenterology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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Bai Y, Guan F, Zhu F, Jiang C, Xu X, Zheng F, Liu W, Lei J. IL-33/ST2 Axis Deficiency Exacerbates Hepatic Pathology by Regulating Treg and Th17 Cells in Murine Schistosomiasis Japonica. J Inflamm Res 2021; 14:5981-5998. [PMID: 34815688 PMCID: PMC8604654 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s336404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Schistosoma japonicum-infected IL-33 and ST2 gene deficiency (IL-33−/− and ST2−/−, respectively) mice were used to explore the role of the IL-33/ST2 axis in liver pathology targeting regulatory T cells (Treg)/T helper 17 cells (Th17). Materials and Methods Each mouse was infected percutaneously with 20 S. japonicum cercariae. Hepatic mass index (HMI), liver egg granulomas, hepatic fibrosis biomarkers and serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were investigated. Treg and Th17 frequency was determined by flow cytometry. Expressions of Foxp3, ST2, TGF-β1, IL-10, RORγt, and IL-17A were measured via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Concentrations of TGF-β1, IL-10 and IL-17A were tested with ELISA. In vitro experiments, mRNA expressions of Foxp3, TGF-β1, IL-10, Atg5, Beclin-1 and p62 associated with polarization of Treg by recombinant mouse IL-33 (rmIL-33) were detected by qRT-PCR. Results An increased expression of IL-33/ST2 was shown in S. japonicum-infected mice. Deficiency of IL-33 or ST2 gene led to an aggravated liver pathology, which was evidenced by elevated hepatic granuloma volume, HMI and ALT levels and fibrosis, which was demonstrated by increased hepatic collagen deposition in the infected mice. Injection of rmIL-33 into the infected IL-33−/− mice strongly abrogated the liver pathology and fibrosis, whereas no detectable effect with injecting rmIL-33 into the infected ST2−/− mice. Furthermore, depletion of the IL-33/ST2 axis inhibited Treg, accompanied by increased Th17. rmIL-33 treatment upregulated Treg and downregulated Th17 in the infected IL-33−/− mice, while no effect in the infected ST2−/− mice. rmIL-33 led to elevated expressions of Atg5, Beclin-1 and inhibited expression of p62 in expansion of Treg. Conclusion The IL-33/ST2 axis plays a protective role in S. japonicum infected mice, which is closely related to increasing Treg responses as well as suppressing Th17 responses. Expansion of Treg by IL-33 may be associated with its regulation of autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Bai
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Fei Guan
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Feifan Zhu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunjie Jiang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - XiaoXiao Xu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Fang Zheng
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenqi Liu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiahui Lei
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
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