Abstract:
Objective To observe the effect of Echinococcus granulosus antigen B (AgB) on bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) in mice.
Methods Eighteen male C57Bl/6 mice were randomly divided into a normal control group (group A), an SAE model group (group B), and a protein intervention group (group C), with 6 mice in each group. Group A received intraperitoneal injection of PBS; In group B and group C, SAE was induced in mice by intraperitoneal injection of LPS, the group B received intraperitoneal injection of PBS, while group C received intraperitoneal injection of PBS solution containing 5% AgB. The levels of anti-inflammatory factors interleukin-10 (IL-10), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and pro-inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured by ELISA. The levels of liver and kidney function indicators in mice, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum creatinine (Cr) and urea (UREA), were detected using a fully automated biochemical analyzer. HE staining was used to observe the brain tissue damage in mice, and immunohistochemical staining was applied to detect the number of calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (lba-1)-positive cells.
Results Compared with group A, mice in group B had aggravated brain tissue damage, significantly increased levels of serum pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-6, decreased levels of anti-inflammatory factors IL-10 and TGF-β, increased levels of ALT, AST, CR, and UREA, and increased number of lba-1-positive cells in brain tissue (P < 0.01). Compared with group B, mice in group C showed reduced brain tissue damage, significantly decreased levels of serum pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-6, increased levels of anti-inflammatory factors IL-10 and TGF-β, decreased levels of ALT, AST, CR, and UREA, and reduced number of lba-1-positive cells in brain tissue (P < 0.01).
Conclusions AgB has a protective effect on LPS-induced SAE in mice, which may be related to the inhibition of microglia activation.