The increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and induced apoptosis in human macrophages treated by Echinococcus granulosus hydatid cyst fluid extracellular vesicles

OBJECTIVE: The current study evaluated the effects of EVs from Echinococcus granulosus hydatid cyst fluid (HCF) on the expression levels of the apoptosis and autophagy factors in the THP-1 cell line. RESULTS DESCRIPTION: The morphological and blotting analyses showed extraction of intact EVs. The results of apoptosis genes showed statistically significant upregulation of CAS-7, -9, Bcl-2, and Mcl-1, while the expression of CAS-3 was significantly decreased. The expression of apoptotic factors (CAS-3, -7, and − 8) was upregulated, while the anti-apoptotic factors (Bcl-2 and Mcl-1) were significantly downregulated. In addition, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in 3 h was low, while it was high at 24 h. The relative expression of autophagy genes exhibited statistically significant upregulation of LC3b after 3 h. During the 24 h after exposure, the relative expression of ATG7 and ATG12 was significantly decreased. The current findings showed a low Bax/Bcl2 ratio at 3 h that was converted to high ratio at 24 h. Our findings suggested induction of apoptosis downstream of inflammatory responses of the immune system to prevent spreading of infection.