Structural Changes and Detection of Liver Fibrosis–Related Protein Levels in Coculture of Alveolar Echinococcosis-Protoscoleces and Human Hepatic Stellate Cells

Abstract

BackgroundEchinococcus multilocularis is a causative agent of human alveolar echinococcosis (AE). AE leads to cirrhosis in several organs, such as the liver, triggering severe conditions, including hepatic failure and encephalopathy. The main purpose of this study is to explore the interaction between treated hepatic stellate cells and AE-protoscoleces (AE-PSCs). The results of this study will be provided experimental basis for revealing the mechanisms of hepatic fibrosis after AE infection.MethodsWe investigated the role of alveolar echinococcosis-protoscoleces (AE-PSCs) in liver fibrosis and structural changes and liver fibrosis-related protein expression in a coculture of PSCs and human hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Structural changes were detected by transmission electron microscopy, whereas liver fibrosis-related proteins, collagen I, alpha-smooth muscle actin, and osteopontin levels were measured by western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ResultsPSCs exhibited morphological changes, specifically changes in shape, and showed slight changes in the cytoplasmic membrane, whereas structural modifications were observed in HSCs. Additionally, western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed that PSCs treated in vitro with HSC-LX2 showed significantly increased collagen-Ⅰ, α-smooth muscle actin, and osteopontin expression levels after 3–4 days of incubation in a coculture system. AE-PSCs induced liver fibrosis by inducing extracellular matrix expression and HSC activation.ConclusionsThese results provide insight into the pathogenesis of echinococcosis- induced hepatic fibrosis and introduce therapeutic targets and diagnostic criteria for managing echinococcosis-dependent liver fibrosis.