Up-regulation of Interleukin-21 Contributes to Liver Pathology of Schistosomiasis by Driving GC Immune Responses and Activating HSCs in Mice.

ABSTRACT: The pathology of schistosome egg-induced liver granuloma, fibrosis and eventually liver scarring is complicated. CD4+ helper T (Th) cells play critical roles in both host humoral immunity and cellular immunity against parasitic infection and immunopathology in schistosomiasis. Follicular helper T (Tfh) cells are another specialized subset of Th cells and involved in infectious diseases. However, the immune regulatory mechanism of Tfh cells in severe liver pathology of schistosomiasis is still poorly understood. In this study, using a S. japonicum-infected mouse model, we studied the dynamics and effects of Tfh cells in vivo and demonstrated that Tfh phenotype molecules ICOS, PD-1 and functional factor IL-21 were positively correlated with disease development by flow cytometry. Meanwhile, o

SUBMITTER: Wang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5709429 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature