The potential curative and hepatoprotective effects of platelet rich plasma on liver fibrosis in Schistosoma mansoni experimentally infected mice

Trapped Schistosoma mansoni eggs trigger fibrotic liver disease that can continue to liver cirrhosis and failure. This work evaluates the outcome of platelet rich plasma (PRP) on S. mansoni-induced liver fibrosis by intraperitoneal (IP) and intrahepatic (IH) routes with/without Praziquantel (PZQ) treatment. Swiss albino mice (n = 162) were divided into non-infected (n = 66) and infected (n = 96) groups, then subdivided into non-treated and treated subgroups with PRP(IP), PRP(IH) 6th and 10th weeks post-infection, PZQ, PZQ + PRP(IP) and PZQ + PRP(IH) 6th and 10th weeks post-infection. Effects of treatments were evaluated by parasitological, histopathological and Immunohistochemical assessments. In the early assessment (12th week post-infection) of infected-treated groups, the mean granuloma number showed significant reduction in groups treated with PZQ + PRP (IH) 10th week, PRP (IP), PZQ + PRP (IP) and PZQ + PRP (IH) 6th week (33.33%, 33%, 27.77% and 27.22%, respectively). Furthermore, the mean granuloma diameter showed significant reduction in groups treated with PRP (IH) 10th week and PZQ + PRP (IP) (24.17% and 15.5%, respectively). Also, the fibrotic index showed significant reduction in groups treated with PZQ + PRP (IP), PRP (IP) and PZQ + PRP (IH) 6th week (48.18%, 46.81% and 41.36%, respectively). Transforming growth factor β1(TGF-β1) expression was in correlation with parasitological and histopathological results. Diminished TGF-β1 expression was mostly in infected groups treated with PZQ + PRP (IP), PZQ + PRP (IH) 6th week and PRP (IP) (88.63%, 88.63% and 77.27%, respectively). In the late assessment (14th week post-infection) of infected treated groups, TGF-β1expression was reduced in groups treated with PZQ, PRP (IH) 10th weeks, PRP (IP) (83.33%, 66.66%, 33.33% respectively). PRP showed promising anti-fibrotic effects on S. mansoni-induced liver fibrosis. © 2023, Indian Society for Parasitology.