The Research Of Expression Of HSP47 In Schistosomasis Liver Fibrosis

【Objective】HSP47 in organ fibrosis plays an important role, acting as a collagen-specific molecular chaperone and facilitating the procollagen triple helix assembly. However, the possible role of the HSP47 involving in liver fibrosis, especially in schistosome egg-induced granuloma formation is not yet known clearly. Therefore, the Aim of this study was to assess the expression of HSP47 in liver tissue both in human and experimental models of schistosomiasis-induced hepatic fibrosis, in order to elucidate the relationship and possible mechanism between HSP47 and schistosomiasis induced liver fibrosis.【Methods】1. Liver tissue samples were obtained by liver biopsy from outpatient and inpatientin Tongji hospital from 2008 to 2010(20 patients who had Schistosomiasis-induced hepatic fibrosis, other 5 patients,as the control group,who had no hepatic fibrosis). Hepatic pathological change and fibrosis deposition were evaluated via HE staining and Masson trichrome staining. The expression of HSP47 was detected by immunocytochemistry and Real-time PCR reaction.2. Experimental model of hepatic fibrosis due to schistosomiasis was estabilished: Balb/c mice were infected by Schistosoma japonicum cercariae through their abdominal skins, comparing with mice in normal group untreated. 12 weeks after infection, the livers were harvested and liver tissues were fixed with formalin. Hepatic pathological change and fibrosis deposition were evaluated via HE staining and Masson trichrome staining. The expression of HSP47 was detected by immunocytochemistry and Real-time PCR reaction.【Result】1. In contrast to the control, the expression of collagen fibers and HSP47 was markedly increased in fibrotic liver of patients infected by schistosomiasis (P <0.05). The expression was mainly localized in the cytoplasm of activated HSC around granulomas.2. Compared with the control, up-regulation in the expression of HSP47 was detected in the liver tissues of experimental mice model of hepatic fibrosis caused by schistosomiasis (P <0.05), which was observed mainly in the cytoplasm of activated HSC around granulomas too.【Conclusions】1. Our results indicate the involvement of HSP47 contributes to the progression of liver fibrosis, by regulating HSC cells'function, affecting the production of collagens, increasing the deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM).2. Considering that the expression of HSP47 was always limited in the activated HSC, there is a possible hypothesis that HSP47 plays a key role in the synthesis of ECM and different factors may modulate the activation of HSC by a same HSP47 dependent mechanism.