The effect of recombinant sTGF beta 1RII and sIL13R alpha 2 receptor proteins on schistosomiasis japonica, hepatic fibrosis and signal transduction in a mouse model of schistosome disease

摘要

This study was designed to investigate the effect of recombinant 5TGF beta 1RII and sIL13R alpha 2 receptor proteins on schistosomiasis japonica, hepatic fibrosis and the expression of SMAD3 and STAT6. The proteins 5TG beta 1 RII and 5IL13R alpha 2 were expressed in Escherichia colt, purified using affinity chromatography and characterized by Western blotting. Female BALB/C mice (48) were randomly divided into eight groups and infected with Schistosoma japonicum. Five weeks after infection, test groups were injected with the recombinant proteins at different doses. Eight weeks after infection, lung and hepatic tissue samples were obtained and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Masson's trichrome. lmmunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of SMAD3 and STAT6. The recombinant proteins 5TGF beta 1RII and sIL13Ra2 were successfully expressed, purified, and characterized. The granuloma area, hepatic hydroxyproline (HYP) level and hepatic fibrosis of the protein therapeutic groups were significantly smaller than those of the positive control group (P < 0.01). Treatment with sTGF beta 1RII was more effective when the protein was administered for 4 weeks rather than 2 (P<0.01). Hepatic fibrosis in the groups using a low dose of protein sTGF beta 1 was lower that of the combination group (P < 0.05). The expression level of STAT6 was significantly lower in groups treated with sIL13R alpha 2 than in groups not treated with the protein (P < 0.01). The recombinant proteins TGF beta 1RII and sIL13R alpha 2 were able to decrease granuloma area and hepatic fibrosis in schistosomiasis japonica, and also reduced the expression of the signal transduction proteins SMAD3 and STAT6. The proteins were more effective when used in combination than when applied singly