The Effect of Alpha-Tocopherol on the Expression of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and Transforming Growth Factor Beta Genes in Three Developmental Stages of Echinococcus Granulosus



Nosratabadi SJ¹ ; Hayati Roodbari N¹ ; Modarresi MH² ; Farsinejad A³ ; Fasihi Harandi M⁴
Source: Iranian Journal of Parasitology Published:2020

Abstract

Background: In recent decades platyhelminths have been used as model organisms to ad-dress some of the fundamental questions related to the growth and development of animal organisms. Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors (EGFR) and Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGF-beta) have a regulatory role in the growth and development of Echinococcus spe-cies. This study determined the effect of alpha-tocopherol on the expression of EGFR and TGF-beta genes in three in vitro developmental stages of E. granulosus. Methods: E. granulosus protoscoleces were cultured in diphasic medium containing bovine serum and CMRL 1066. Three developmental stages of E. granulosus, i.e. invaginated proto-scoleces, evaginated protoscoleces and three-proglottid worms, were treated by alpha-tocopherol (250 μg/ml for 36 h) and the expression of EGFR and TGF-beta genes were evaluated by using qPCR analysis. Results: Intact protoscoleces were successfully developed to the segmented worms in di-phasic culture media. Higher levels of both EGFR and TGF-beta gene expression were observed in the invaginated protoscoleces as well as the segmented worms in comparison to the non-treated controls. Conclusion: Administration of alpha-tocopherol to different developmental stages of E. granulosus significantly enhanced EGFR and TGF-beta expression in the parasite. Both oxidant and non-oxidant activities of alpha-tocopherol could explain the study findings. Over-expression of the genes could in turn enhance growth factor effects and facilitates the vi ability of the parasite. © 2020, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS). All rights reserved.