Primary Exploration Of The Correlation Among BFGF, The Cells Related To Hepatic Fibrosis And Schistosomal Hepatic Fibrosis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and the ultrastructural dynamic changes of several kinds of the cells related to hepatic fibrosis during the formation of schistosomiasis with liver fibrosis, consequently to analysis the correlation among bFGF, the cells related to hepatic fibrosis and schistosomal hepatic fibrosis. It would be beneficial to disclosing a possible mechanism of schistosomal hepatic fibrosis and therapy of this disease.METHODS1. Murine schistosomal hepatic fibrosis model was built by making the mice transepidermally infected with 5. japonicum cercariae.2. Histochemical stainingThe mice were killed at different time point after infection, their liver were cut off and embedded with paraffin, then stained with HE and VG. The sizes of granulomas were measured.3. Immunohistochemical stainingThe expression of bFGF and a -SMA positive cells during the formation of schistosomal hepatic fibrosis was examined.4. Transmission electron microscopyThe ultrastructural dynamic changes in the cells related to hepatic fibrosis were observed.5. Imaging analysis systemThe extent of liver fibrosis and the expression of bFGF and a -SMA positive cells were quantitated. 6. Statistics analysisCompare between two different groups at the same phase by T test; Compare among different phases of the same group by One-way ANOVA.RESULTS1. Murine schistosomal hepatic fibrosis model was built successfully.2. The granuloma appeared at the 6th week after infection and its size reached the biggest at the 8th week. Then the granuloma shrank gradually, but the extent of liver fibrosis aggravated progressively.3. The integrated optical density (IOD) of bFGF positive cells reached the summit atthe the 10th week, after that it tended to go down.4. The integrated optical density (IOD) of a -SMA positive cells increased as time went on, while it increased slowly after the 8th week.5. The cells related to hepatic fibrosis (hepatocytes, fat-storing cells, Kupffer cells, sinusoidal endotheliocytes) presented ultrastructural dynamic changes.CONCLUSION1. The granuloma and hepatic fibrosis depend on different immumological modulationmechanism. The latter is the indirect stretch of the former.2. Fat-storing cells were activated and transformed into myofibroblasts is a critical link in the development of hepatic fibrogenesis following schistosomiasis.3. bFGF probably promote hepatic fibrosis by activating fat-storing cells.4. Kupffer cells, sinusoidal endotheliocytes, necrotic hepatocytes may participate in the process of hepatic fibrosis.