Hepatic Fibrosis in Schistosomiasis: Egg Granulomas Secrete Fibroblast Stimulating Factor in Vitro

Abstract

Cytosol extracts and culture supernatants of isolated egg granulomas obtained from livers of mice with Schistosoma mansoni infection stimulated fibroblasts to incorporate tritiated thymidine and to proliferate in vitro. This finding suggests that hepatic granulomas may play a role in regulating hepatic fibrosis in Schistosoma mansoni infections.