IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY ON SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI INDUCED LIVER FIBROSIS IN EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED MICE

In chronic schistosomiasis, eggs trapped in the liver triggered granulomatous immunopathological lesions which leading to severe liver fibrosis. The study checked the impact of IL17A on serum IL-13 level, TNF-α and TGF-1β protein expressions on S. mansoni induced liver fibrosis in experimentally infected mice. Forty four male C57BL/6 pathogen-free mice obtained, divided into 4 groups: GI negative control, GII positive control infected with 30±5 cercariae, GIII infected/anti-IL-17 mAb was given, GIV isotype-matched IgG2a mAb was given as a challenge, were sacrificed at 6, &10 weeks postinfection, then underwent liver enzymes and cytokines assessment, histopathological and immunohistochemical studies. The results showed that the profibrogenic activity of IL 17 was blocked by anti/IL-17 monoclonal antibodies with significant decrease in IL 13, liver enzymes, pro-inflammatory cytokines and granuloma size. Also, reduced TGF- β1 expression, and increase TNF-α expression levels in livers of S. mansoniinfected mice in the later stages, inducing its anti-fibrotic effects. So may be targeted in Schistosoma egg induced liver fibrosis as potential immunotherapeutic agent.