Kupffer Cells: Important Participant of Hepatic Alveolar Echinococcosis

Abstract

Aims: Kupffer cells (KCs) are the liver-resident macrophages and play a leading role in the regulation of liver homeostasis in physiological conditions and in pathology. The study aims to investigate the anti-echinococcosis effect of KCs and the effects of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation in the progression of liver fibrosis in hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (hepatic AE). Methods: Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and Masson staining were used to assess the pathological inflammatory changes and collagen deposition, respectively. Immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR were used to detect the number of aggregates of KCs, the expression of cytokines and activation of HSCs. Results: In the close group, H&E staining showed that the normal lobular structure was destroyed and inflammatory infiltration around the lesion could be observed, and Masson staining showed that blue collagen fibers were clearly deposited near the portal area. IHC showed that KCs surface markers CD68 and CD163, cytokine iNOS and Arg-1 were positively expressed in the vicinity of inflammatory lesions. qRT-PCR indicated that TNF-α, IL-10, and TGF-β1 secreted by KCs were significantly higher than those in the distance group (P < 0.01). It is worth noticing that the expression levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines were slightly higher than that of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Both IHC and qRT-PCR results showed that HSCs activation markers, the expression of α-SMA and Desmin significantly increased. Conclusions: Our research indicates that KCs have immune-protective effect of anti-echinococcosis and promote liver fiber repair, and it also suggests that they have potential therapeutic value for patients with hepatic AE.

Diagnostic value of CXCR3 and its ligands in spinal tuberculosis

“…GAPDH was used as the internal control. The relative expression was calculated by the comparative cycle threshold method (2 -ΔΔq ) ( 13 ).…”

Quantitative evaluation of range and metabolic activity of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis lesion microenvironment using PET/CT and multi-site sampling method

“…In this study, methodology for sampling was de ned as "specimens were taken from the AE lesion area and from a macroscopically normal distant area of liver tissue", however, the precise area has not been described, but there was a well consideration for control liver tissue acquisition based on pathology. Another recent study sampled the liver tissues with 2 cm line to study Kupffer cell and brosis in hepatic AE [7]. Also, no speci c leison type heterogeniety was decribed except expressiong that "the liver tissues were taken within 2 cm of the lesion by surgery for the close group, whereas the liver tissues were taken 2 cm outside the lesion for the distance group".…”

“…Besides, sample acquisition from LME liver and adjacent liver tissues (respectively for experimental and control groups) has been introduced to study immunology, brosis, pathophysiological changes etc. of the host [5][6][7][8]. However, there was no clear evidence for such sampling method that could clearly differentiate the real experimental and control liver tissues by separating the immune cell in ltrative boundary.…”

Quantitative evaluation of range and metabolic activity of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis lesion microenvironment using PET/CT and multi-site sampling method

“…Another recent study sampled the liver tissues with 2 cm line to study Kupffer cell and fibrosis in hepatic AE [7]. Also, no specific leison type heterogeniety was decribed except expressiong that "the liver tissues were taken within 2 cm of the lesion by surgery for the close group, whereas the liver tissues were taken 2 cm outside the lesion for the distance group".…”

“…Besides, sample acquisition from LME liver and adjacent liver tissues (respectively for experimental and control groups) has been introduced to study immunology, fibrosis, pathophysiological changes etc. of the host [5][6][7][8]. However, there was no clear evidence for such sampling method that could clearly differentiate the real experimental and control liver tissues by separating the immune cell infiltrative boundary.…”