The increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and induced apoptosis in human macrophages treated by Echinococcus granulosus hydatid cyst fluid extracellular vesicles

The current study evaluated the effects of EVs from Echinococcus granulosus hydatid cyst fluid (HCF) on the expression levels of the apoptosis and autophagy factors in the THP-1 cell line. The morphological and blotting analyses showed extraction of intact EVs. The results of apoptosis genes showed statistically significant upregulation of CAS-7, -9, Bcl-2, and Mcl-1, while the expression of CAS-3 was significantly decreased. The expression of apoptotic factors (CAS-3, -7, and − 8) was upregulated, while the anti-apoptotic factors (Bcl-2 and Mcl-1) were significantly downregulated. In addition, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in 3 h was low, while it was high at 24 h. The relative expression of autophagy genes exhibited statistically significant upregulation of LC3b after 3 h. During the 24 h after exposure, the relative expression of ATG7 and ATG12 was significantly decreased. The current findings showed a low Bax/Bcl2 ratio at 3 h that was converted to high ratio at 24 h. Our findings suggested induction of apoptosis downstream of inflammatory responses of the immune system to prevent spreading of infection.