Elevated circulating TLR4+ monocytes in patients with liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini is associated with advanced periductal fibrosis

Kanin Salao; Chakrit Thapphan; Tran Duong Thai; Kiatichai Faksri; Sutas Suttiprapa; Sirikachorn Tangkawattana; Banchob Sripa B; Steven W Edwards

doi:10.3855/jidc.17711

Elevated circulating TLR4+ monocytes in patients with liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini is associated with advanced periductal fibrosis

Authors

Kanin Salao Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4731-9556
Chakrit Thapphan Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Tran Duong Thai Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Kiatichai Faksri Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Sutas Suttiprapa WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Control of Opisthorchiasis (Southeast Asian Liver fluke Disease), Tropical Disease Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Sirikachorn Tangkawattana WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Control of Opisthorchiasis (Southeast Asian Liver fluke Disease), Tropical Disease Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Banchob Sripa B WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Control of Opisthorchiasis (Southeast Asian Liver fluke Disease), Tropical Disease Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Steven W Edwards Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.17711

Keywords:

monocytes, Opisthorchis viverrine, toll-like receptor 4, reactive oxygen species, advanced periductal fibrosis

Abstract

Introduction: Opisthorchis viverrini (Ov) infection can lead to several disease manifestations of the bile duct including advanced periductal fibrosis (APF) and the most severe complication, cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Monocytes migrate to the infection site and differentiate into tissue macrophages to express and release molecules such as cytokines, reactive oxygen species, and growth factors. TLR4⁺ monocytes are classified as having a pro-tumor phenotype and secrete tumor-promoting factors. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of monocytes in the pathogenesis of opisthorchiasis.

Methodology: We used flow cytometry to measure the number of TLR4⁺monocytes in the circulating blood of Ov infected patients with or without APF compared to healthy, non-Ov-infected controls.

Results: We found, for the first time, that patients with AFP have elevated numbers of circulating TLR4⁺ monocytes when compared to patients without fibrosis and healthy individuals. Intriguingly, when we measured ROS from these monocytes, we found increased ROS production in patients with APF.

Conclusions: We propose that excessive production of ROS from these TLR4⁺ monocytes may lead to excessive injury of surrounding tissue and hence contribute to the pathological processes that lead to the development of advanced periductal fibrosis.

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Published

2023-08-31

How to Cite

Salao K, Thapphan C, Thai TD, Faksri K, Suttiprapa S, Tangkawattana S, Sripa B B, Edwards SW (2023) Elevated circulating TLR4+ monocytes in patients with liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini is associated with advanced periductal fibrosis. J Infect Dev Ctries 17:1168–1172. doi: 10.3855/jidc.17711

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Issue

Vol. 17 No. 08: August 2023

Section

Original Articles

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