Apoptosis as a Potential Target to Arrest and Survival of Hydatid Cyst

Hydatidosis is a serious and life-threatening disease that may lead to the death of the host if diagnosed and treated improperly. Apoptosis has been investigated as a mechanism of host innate immunity in suppressing parasites and also the survival of cysts in the human body. The present study investigates the process and role of apoptosis caused by a host cell or parasite in hydatid cysts. Survey cytotoxic effect and apoptotic mortality of hydatid-treated lymphocytes were investigated. Also, to determine the mechanism of apoptosis in host and parasite, the mean gene expressions of , , in hydatid-treated lymphocytes, and gene in the laminated-germinal layer of fertile and infertile hydatid cysts were evaluated. The viability of fertile and infertile hydatid fluid-treated lymphocytes was significantly different compared with the control group. Flow cytometry also showed apoptotic cells. mean gene expression was significantly different between fertile and infertile treated lymphocytes. However, there was no significant difference in the mean expression of , and genes in these two groups. Although the expression of the gene in infertile cysts was higher than in fertile cysts, the result was not significant. It seems that hydatid cyst fluid may induce apoptosis in lymphocytes so that, hydatid cysts can escape from the immune system and stay alive. On the other hand, the results represent the possible immune path of host apoptosis against the parasite as one of the important routes in infertility of hydatid cysts.