Involvement of IL-13 and tissue transglutaminase in liver granuloma and fibrosis after schistosoma japonicum infection.
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| Abstract |
Schistosomiasis, one of the most devastating parasitic diseases, is caused by Schistosoma japonicum (Sj) infection resulting in serious liver fibrosis. Interleukin- (IL-) 13, which is produced by TH2 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 during Schistosoma infection has not been established. This study investigated the involvement of IL-13 and tTG in liver fibrogenesis during Sj infection in mice. Five weeks after Sj infection, 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 under Sj infection. Based on their important functions in liver fibrosis induced by Sj infection, IL-13 and tTG could be promising potential drug targets against schistosomiasis.
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| Authors | Juanjuan Tang, Huayi Huang, Xiaofang Ji, Xunmin Zhu, Yinyan Li, Mingmin She, Suikai Yan, Mingchiu Fung, Zi Li |
| Journal | Mediators of inflammation (Mediators Inflamm) Vol. 2014 Pg. 753483 ( 2014) ISSN: 1466-1861 [Electronic] United States |
| PMID | 25110399 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't) |
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