Dynamic change of heat shock protein 47 in Schistosoma japonicum-induced hepatic fibrosis

DENG Ju-hong; TAO Ran; JIAO Yun-tao; LI Lan; FAN Xiang-xue; HUANG Jia-quan

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1007-8134.2017.03.008

Abstract：Objective To assess the expression of heat shock protein 47 (HSP47) from the liver tissues in patients with Schistosoma japonicum-induced liver fibrosis, and to observe the dynamic changes of HSP47 expression in a rodent model of Schistosoma japonicum-induced liver fibrosis. Methods Liver biopsy specimens from 72 outpatients and inpatients with Schistosoma japonicum-induced liver fibrosis were collected from Tongji Hospital from 2008 to 2012. Immunohistochemical and Masson staining were performed to assess the expression of HSP47 and collagen proliferation, respectively. The mRNA expression levels of HSP47, collagen type I, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were measured by real-time PCR. Experimental mouse model of schistosomiasis liver fibrosis was established, liver tissue was harvested at the 6th, 8th, 12th week after infected. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect HSP47 expression. Real-time PCR and western blot analysis were performed to detect the expression of HSP47 and collagen type Ⅰ at transcriptional and protein level. Results HSP47-positive cells of liver biopsy samples were mainly localized in interstitial areas and the periphery of egg granulomas. The number of HSP47-positive cells was significantly increased with the aggravation of liver fibrosis (P < 0.01), in parallel with collagen typeⅠdeposition. The relative expression levels of HSP47, collagen type I, CTGF and TGF-β1 mRNA were significantly increased from fibrosis stage 1 to stage 4, as compared to stage 0 (P < 0.01). In rodent model of Schistosoma japonicum-induced hepatic fibrosis, the expression of HSP47 and collagen type Ⅰ was significantly higher than that in normal control mice at the 6th week, the 8th week and the 12th week after they were infected (P < 0.01), which was consistent with the expression change in patients with Schistosoma japonicum-induced liver fibrosis. Conclusions The expression of HSP47 is increased in patients with Schistosoma-induced fibrosis, as well as in animal models, and is raised with the expression increased of CTGF, TGF-β1 and collagen typeⅠ. HSP47 may be a new diagnostic marker and a potential therapeutic target for liver fibrosis.