单位:[1]Department and Institute of Infectious Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, HuazhongUniversity of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China华中科技大学同济医学院附属同济医院感染病研究所感染科[2]Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, TongjiMedical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China华中科技大学同济医学院附属同济医院儿科学系[3]Hepatic Surgery Center,Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China华中科技大学同济医学院附属同济医院肝脏外科
Endothelin receptors (ETRs) are activated by vasoactive peptide endothelins and involved in the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis. However, less is known about the role of ETRs in Schistosoma (S.) japonicum-induced hepatic fibrosis. Here, we show that the expression of ETRs is markedly enhanced in the liver and spleen tissues of patients with schistosome-induced fibrosis, as well as in murine models. Additional analyses have indicated that the expression levels of ETRs in schistosomiasis patients are highly correlated with the portal vein and spleen thickness diameter, both of which represent the severity of fibrosis. Splenomegaly is a characteristic symptom of schistosome infection, and splenic abnormality may promote the progression of hepatic fibrosis. We further demonstrate that elevated levels of ETRs are predominantly expressed on splenic B cells in spleen tissues during infection. Importantly, using a well-studied model of human schistosomiasis, we demonstrate that endothelin receptor antagonists can partially reverse schistosome-induced hepatic fibrosis by suppressing the activation of splenic B cells characterized by interleukin-10 (IL-10) secretion and regulatory T (Treg) cell-inducing capacity. Our study provides insights into the mechanisms by which ETRs regulate schistosomiasis hepatic fibrosis and highlights the potential of endothelin receptor antagonist as a therapeutic intervention for fibrotic diseases.
基金:
Schistosomiasis Control Project in Hubei Province
(No. XF2010-15, No. XF2012-17) and the National
Science and Technology Major Project (No.
2014ZX10005001; No. 2018ZX10302204-001).
第一作者单位:[1]Department and Institute of Infectious Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, HuazhongUniversity of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
通讯作者:
通讯机构:[1]Department and Institute of Infectious Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, HuazhongUniversity of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
推荐引用方式(GB/T 7714):
Kong Hongyan,He Jinan,Guo Shusen,et al.Endothelin receptors promote schistosomiasis-induced hepatic fibrosis via splenic B cells.[J].PLOS PATHOGENS.2020,16(10):e1008947.doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1008947.
APA:
Kong Hongyan,He Jinan,Guo Shusen,Song Qiqin,Xiang Dandan...&Huang Jiaquan.(2020).Endothelin receptors promote schistosomiasis-induced hepatic fibrosis via splenic B cells..PLOS PATHOGENS,16,(10)
MLA:
Kong Hongyan,et al."Endothelin receptors promote schistosomiasis-induced hepatic fibrosis via splenic B cells.".PLOS PATHOGENS 16..10(2020):e1008947