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BackgroundThe local immune responses to chronic echinococcal infections in various organs are largely unknown. Since the liver is the most frequently involved organ in such infections in human we aimed to characterize the inflammatory as well as immune cell infiltrate around hydatid cysts in the liver and compared to common inflammatory processes of the liver.MethodSurgical samples from the liver of 21 cystic echinococcosis (CE) patients were studied and the distribution of different types of inflammatory and immune cells were determined by immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, expression levels of costimulatory CTLA4, CD28, CD80 and CD86 molecules were measured at RNA level by PCR. Liver biopsy samples from patients with steatohepatitis (SH, n = 11) and chronic hepatitis (CH, n = 11) were used as non-inflammatory and chronic inflammatory controls, respectively. The composition and density of the inflammatory and immune cell infiltrates have been compared by using morphometry.ResultsCD3+ T cells predominated the inflammatory infiltrate in all pathological processes, while in CE samples CD20+ B cells, in CH samples CD68+ macrophages were also frequent. Both myeloperoxidase (MPO) + leukocytes and CD68+ macrophages were found to be significantly decreased in CE as compared to either SH or CH samples. Concerning T cell subtypes, only CD8+ T cells were found to be significantly decreased in SH samples. CD1a + dendritic cells were almost completely missing from CE biopsies unlike in any other sample types. There were no differences detected in the mRNA expression of costimulatory molecules except decreased expression of CD28 in CE samples.ConclusionIn the hydatid lesions of the liver of chronic echinococcal infections T cell-mediated immunity seems to be impaired as compared to other types of chronic inflammatory processes, suggesting an immunosuppressive role for Echinococcus granulosus, which deserve further attentions.

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) from hydatid cyst fluid (HCF) was purified and characterized for comparison between fertile and sterile HCF. Samples were obtained from slaughtered sheep and then sterile and fertile cysts were separated. ALP was purified from aspirated cyst fluid and biochemical parameters were determined. Sera from patients with hydatid disease (15 samples) and patients with other parasitic diseases including fascioliasis (2 samples), taeniasis ( Taenia saginata, 5 samples) and also sera from uninfected controls (15 samples), were collected and used in immunoblotting experiments with ALP from sterile and fertile HCF as antigen. Our results showed that ALP activity in fertile HCF [10.75+/-3.78 (SD) U/ml) was significantly more than in sterile HCF (6.25+/-2.43 U/ml). There were also some differences between the kinetic parameters and biochemical characteristics of ALP in fertile and sterile HCF. Immunoreactive bands were clearly observed when sera from hydatid infected patients were tested with ALP from fertile HCF as the antigen. However, this method revealed no cross-reaction between purified ALP from sterile HCF and sheep liver tissue. These findings suggest that there is some variation in the immunochemical characteristics of ALP from fertile and sterile HCF.

Hydatid cyst, the larval stage of the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus and a causative agent of cystic echinococcosis, possesses a vast number of antigenic peptides that are constantly presented in the host immune system during infection. Here, we sought to provide more information about the cellular/humoral components engaged in the peripheral immune reactions to the fertile-cyst-derived Echinococcus alkaline phosphatase (E.ALP) in human hosts. Lymphoproliferative and cytokine responses after recall of E.ALP suggested the presence of specific immune reactions against the antigen. Interferon gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin (IL)-10 had the highest fold increase over the spontaneous levels in response to hydatid crude antigen (HCA). Recall of E.ALP, as well as its encounter, boosted IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, and IL-6 responses in peripheral blood mononuclear cells cultures (PBMCs). The HCA-driven levels of all the cytokines in the culture supernatants of normal PBMCs were higher than those measured after E.ALP encounter. Immunoglobulin G (IgG)-profile in response to HCA showed the dominance of specific IgG1, IgG2, and IgG4 antibodies, but relatively lower affinity of IgG3 to this antigen. IgG1 and IgG3 were the only isotypes detected in serum responses to E.ALP. Our findings suggested that E.ALP contributes to the early phase of immune responses to the parasite, likely by induction of proinflammatory profiles and clonal expansion of high-affinity IgG1- and IgG3-secreting plasma cells, suggesting the value of E.ALP as a candidate to develop novel therapeutic and immunization strategies.

Introduction: Hydatid cyst involves vital organs such as, liver, lungs, spleen, kidneys and so on. Hydatidosis could be seen in many ruminants and accidentally in human. Hydatidosis causes impairment physiological functions. This disease disturbs the balance of biochemical compounds.Material and methods: Eighty five livers and lungs from sheep having Hydatid cysts were taken from Ghaem Abattoir. Five milliliters of Hydatid fluid was taken from each from fertile and sterile cyst. Protein, cholesterol, glucose, phosphate, calcium and enzymes like alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) have been measured by Autoanalyzer apparatus. Flamphotometry has been used for Na and K measurement.Results: The mean of biochemical compound such as, protein, cholesterol, glucose and enzymes like ALP, LDH, ALT and AST was different in the fertile and sterile cysts of lung and liver in sheep. The total protein, cholesterol, glucose and LDH, ALP, AST enzymes differed significantly between fertile and sterile in liver.The above mentioned compounds of lung except cholesterol and alanine aminotransferase also differed significantly between sterile and fertile cysts. Mineral elements such as, Na + , K + , Ca 2+ were different in fertile and sterile cysts in accordance to their location. Na, K and Ca in fertile cyst of liver were higher than sterile cyst.Conclusion: These results lead us to this idea that ability of the wall of sterile and fertile is different and this could be used as a hypothesis for biochemical control of Hydatidosis.