Preventive CTLA-4-Ig Treatment Reduces Hepatic Egg Load and Hepatic Fibrosis in Schistosoma mansoni-Infected Mice.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hepatic fibrosis and granuloma formation as a consequence of tissue entrapped eggs produced by female schistosomes characterize the pathology of Schistosoma mansoni infection. We have previously shown that single-sex infection with female schistosomes mitigates hepatic fibrosis after secondary infection. This was associated with an increased expression of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein-4 (CTLA-4), known as a negative regulator of T cell activation. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that administration of agonistic CTLA-4-Ig (Belatacept) is capable to prevent and/or treat hepatic fibrosis during schistosomiasis.

Methods

Mice were infected with 50 S. mansoni cercariae and CTLA-4-Ig, or appropriated control-Ig was administered for 4 we

SUBMITTER: Sombetzki M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6948272 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature