Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Parasitology 1735-7020 6 2 2011 06 15 Apoptosis of Human Lymphocytes after Exposure to Hydatid Fluid 9 16 EN M Mokhtari Amirmajdi Department of Mycoparasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran M Sankian Immunobiochemistry Laboratory, Immunology Research Center, Bu-Ali research Institute, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran I Eftekharzadeh Mashhadi Department of Mycoparasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran A Varasteh Immunobiochemistry Laboratory, Immunology Research Center, Bu-Ali research Institute, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran F Vahedi Immunobiochemistry Laboratory, Immunology Research Center, Bu-Ali research Institute, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran A Sadrizadeh Department of Thoracic surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran A Spotin Department of Mycoparasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran 2015 10 03 Background: Modulation of the immune response is an important strategy by which establish­ment and growth of hydatid cyst in the internal organs of human is warranted. Induction of apop­tosis in the lymphocytes might be a considerable component. This study was designed to evaluate apoptotic impact of hydatid fluid (HF) on human lymphocytes. Methods: Human lymphocytes were treated with hydatid fluid. After 6 hours of exposure, cas­pase-3 activity, the central enzyme of apoptosis cascade, was measured by fluorometric assay in the HF-treated lymphocytes and control cells. In addition, the expression of Bax (a pro-apoptotic protein) and Bcl-2 (an anti-apoptotic protein) mRNA was assessed by RT-PCR after 12 hours of exposure. Results: Both the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 mRNA expression and Caspase-3 activity were higher in the HF-treated lymphocytes relative to the control group. Conclusion: Apoptosis could be as a possible mechanism by which Echinococcus granulosus overwhelms host defenses. https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/view/173 https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/download/173/172