Affiliation:
1. Guangzhou Hoffmann Institute of Immunology, School of Basic Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510182, China
2. Morphology Department, School of Basic Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510182, China
3. School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Abstract
Schistosomiasis, one of the most devastating parasitic diseases, is caused bySchistosoma japonicum(Sj) infection resulting in serious liver fibrosis. Interleukin- (IL-) 13, which is produced byTH2 cells, is a critical profibrotic cytokine found in various organs, including the liver. Tissue transglutaminase (tTG), a group of multifunctional enzymes, serves a central function in the pathogenesis of chronic liver diseases. However, the relationship between IL-13, tTG, and liver fibrosis duringSchistosomainfection has not been established. This study investigated the involvement of IL-13 and tTG in liver fibrogenesis duringSjinfection in mice. Five weeks afterSjinfection, granuloma and fibrosis development in the liver coincided with an increase in IL-13 and tTG in the liver and the upregulation of serum IL-13 in infected mice. Administration of cystamine, an inhibitor of tTG, abrogated the increase in both tTG and IL-13 in infected mice and ameliorated liver fibrogenesis and granuloma development. This result establishes a novel link among IL-13, tTG, and liver granuloma and fibrosis underSjinfection. Based on their important functions in liver fibrosis induced bySjinfection, IL-13 and tTG could be promising potential drug targets against schistosomiasis.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Cited by
25 articles.
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