Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Signaling Involves Echinococcus–Host Intercommunication: A Potential Therapeutic Target in Hepatic Echinococcosis

Abstract

Echinococcosis, one of the most serious and life-threatening parasitic forms of zoonosis worldwide, is caused by the larvae of Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) and Echinococcus multilocularis (E. multilocularis). Various drugs are being applied clinically to treat zoonosis; however, their therapeutic efficacy remains a great challenge, especially with albendazole as the preferred drug of choice. Receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling controls normal cellular proliferation, differentiation, and metabolism in humans and mammals, which are intermediate hosts of E. granulosus and E. multilocularis. Disruption of RTK signaling can cause various forms of carcinogenesis and exacerbate the progression of certain forms of parasitic disease. As a result, a significant number of studies on tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been conducted for the treatment of cancer and parasitic infection, with some TKIs already approved for clinical use for cancer. Notably, RTK signaling has been identified in the parasites E. granulosus and E. multilocularis; however, the mechanisms of RTK signaling response in Echinococcus–host intercommunication are not fully understood. Thus, understanding the RTK signaling response in Echinococcus–host intercommunication and the potential effect of RTK signaling is crucial for identifying new drug targets for echinococcosis. The present review illustrates that RTK signaling in the host is over-activated following infection by E. granulosus or E. multilocularis and can further facilitate the development of metacestodes in vitro. In addition, some TKIs exert strong parasitostatic effects on E. granulosus or E. multilocularis, both in vitro and/or in vivo, through downregulation of RTK signaling molecules. The summarized findings suggest that RTK signaling may be a promising drug target and that TKIs could be potential anti-Echinococcus drugs warranting further research.