Investigating the role of alpha particles in gene expression levels of cytokines in rats infected with cystic echinococcosis

Hydatidosis is a widespread parasitic disease caused by larval stage protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus. The present study investigated the effect of protoscoleces after exposure to alpha particles on the expression of immune response-related genes in rats. This study observed gene expression of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 in rats infected with hydatid cysts. In this study, six groups of male albino rats were used; some groups were injected intraperitoneally, with protoscoleces exposed to alpha particles for either 1 or 1.5 hours, while the control group received protoscoleces. After four to five, the rats were euthanized. The levels of gene activity for markers like TNF-α,​ IL‐6, and IL‐10 were examined in different organs of rats at time intervals. The results showed that alpha particle exposure led to significant changes in the expression of these cytokines depending on both dose and duration of exposure. The expression of alpha particles after 1 and 1.5 hours resulted in notable changes in IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α gene expression in rats, especially after four months, where the injection of irradiated protoscoleces led to an increase in TNF-α expression. The exposure to alpha particles influenced the inflammatory response at both the transcriptional and functional levels. Furthermore, prolonged exposure to alpha particles demonstrated a dose-dependent effect, which enhances gene expression changes.