Type I/II Immune Balance Contributes to the Protective Effect of AIF-1 on Hepatic Immunopathology Induced by Schistosoma japonicum in a Transgenic Mouse Model

In this study, the role of allograft inflammatory factor-1 (AIF-1) in liver pathology and its regulation in immune responses were investigated in a transgenic mouse infected withSchistosoma japonicum. We found that AIF-1 overexpression reduced worm burden and decreased egg granuloma sizes and serum alanine aminotransferase levels, along with inhibited hepatic collagen deposition and serum hydroxyproline levels duringS. japonicum infection. Moreover, AIF-1 overexpression resulted in an increased ratio of Th1/Th2, increased levels of IFN- γ and T-bet, and lower levels of GATA-3 in the spleen, accompanied by increased M1 percentages, decreased M2 percentages, and thus a higher ratio of M1/M2 in the peritoneal cavity and liver. AIF-1 induced CD68 and iNOS mRNA expression and protein levels of cytoplasmic p-P38 and nuclear NF-κB, alon g with enhanced levels of TNF-α and TGF-β in macrophagesin vitro. Moreover, the hepatic pathology had a negative correlation with Th1/Th2 and M1/M2 ratios in the infected mice. The findings reveal that the beneficial role of AIF-1 in alleviating hepatic damage is related to restoring type I/II immune balance inS. japonicum infection.
Source: Inflammation - Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research