Effect of Schistosoma japonicum infection on iron distribution and ferritin expression in mouse liver
Objective To study the effect of Schistosoma japonicum infection on iron distribution and ferritin expression in mouse liver.Methods A total of 24 Kunming mice were randomly divided into control group,infected for 6 weeks group,infected for 8 weeks group and infected for 10 weeks group,with 6 mice in each group.The mice were infected with cercariae(20±2)through abdominal skin.After 6,8 and 10 weeks of infection,the mice were sacrificed and the liver was collected.The pathological changes of liver were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining and Masson staining.The iron distribution of liver was showed by diaminobenzidine(DAB)enhanced Perl's iron staining.The expression of ferritin in liver were detected by immunohistochemical staining.The expression of ferritin light chain mRNA and heavy chain mRNA in mouse liver was detected by quantitative reverse transcription PCR(RT-qPCR).Results Compared with control group,the liver of mice infected with Schistosoma japonicum became darker and harder.HE and Masson staining showed that there were egg deposits in the liver tissue of infected mice,and the eggs were surrounded by granulomas and collagen fibers.The control group had no worm egg granulomas.DAB enhanced Perl's iron staining showed that the iron distribution of hepatocytes in the 6,8 and 10 weeks infected group mice was lower than that in the control group(t=5.94,7.72,9.67;all P＜0.05).There were iron pigment deposits in the hepatic sinusoids,and gradually increased with the extension of infection time(t=3.89,8.59,12.50;all P＜0.05),and the iron staining of the egg shell was strong.Immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression of liver ferritin in the 6,8 and 10 weeks infected groups were lower than that in the control group(t=5.59,7.35,9.66;all P＜0.05),and gradually decreased with the extension of infection time.RT-qPCR results showed that the expression levels of ferritin light chain and heavy chain mRNA in the 6,8 and 10 weeks infected groups were lower than those in the control group(tlight chain=4.01,7.21,9.97,theavy chain=4.50,5.23,5.22;all P＜0.05).Ferritin light chain mRNA gradually decreased with the prolongation of infection time,compared with the 6 weeks infected group,there were significant differences between 8 and 10 weeks infected groups(t=3.20,5.96;all P＜0.05),while ferritin heavy chain mRNA did not change significantly,there were not significant differences in 6,8 and 10 weeks infected groups(t=0.73,0.72,0.01;all P＞0.05).Conclusion Schistosoma japonicum infection could reduce the iron content and ferritin expression in liver cells of mice,which suggested that iron deficiency caused by schistosomiasis infection might be one of the mechanisms of schistosomiasis anemia.
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