Immunohistochemical Evaluation of Apoptotic Proteins Expression in Liver and Spleen after Treatment of Cystic Echinococcosis: An Experimental Study

Abstract

The cellular immune response and apoptotic pathways are closely related dose dependent responses against
Echinococcus granulosus antigens. The aim of this study is to evaluate the cellular expression of Bax,
Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 in both liver and spleen of experimentally cystic echinococcosis mice treated with
Oxfendazole, Oxfendazole +Praziquantel, Oxfendazole +Albendazole and Albendazole +Praziquantel of
experimentally mice model of cystic echinococcosis. After 2 months of treatment, mice were sacrificed and
both liver and spleen were processed for immunohistochemistry staining protocol using specific primary
antibody against mouse Bax, Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 proteins. The results showed that E. granulosus infection
able to induce apoptosis in both liver and spleen tissues after induction of cystic echinococcosis mice model,
treatment with Albendazole in combination form gives better results because of attenuation of apoptosis
pathway and restore of normal cellular behavior. In conclusion, this study describes the involvement of
apoptosis in the pathogenesis of cystic echinococcosis.