IL-37 alleviates liver granuloma caused by Schistosoma japonicum infection by inducing alternative macrophage activation

BACKGROUND: Hepatic macrophages regulate liver granuloma formation and fibrosis caused by infection with Schistosoma japonicum, with the manner of regulation dependent on macrophage activation state. Interleukin (IL)-37 may have immunomodulatory effects on macrophages. However, whether IL-37 can affect liver granuloma formation and fibrosis by affecting the polarization of macrophages in S. japonicum infection remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate IL-37-affected macrophage polarization in liver granuloma formation and fibrosis in S. japonicum infection. METHODS: An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the expression of IL-37 in the serum of patients with acute S. japonicum infection and in the serum of healthy people. Recombinant IL-37 (rIL-37), CPP-IgG(2)Fc-IL-37 and no CPP-IgG(2)Fc-IL-37 proteins were injected into S. japonicum-infected mice every 3 days for a total of 6 times from day 24 post infection onwards. Subsequently, ELISA, quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, fluorescence-activated cell sorting and western blot were used to analyze whether IL-37 inhibits the formation of liver granulomas and the development of liver fibrosis by regulating the phenotypic transition of macrophages. Finally, the three IL-37 proteins and SIS3, a Smad3 inhibitor, were co-cultured in mouse peritoneal macrophages to explore the mechanism underlying the promotion of the polarization of M0 macrophages to the M2 phenotype by IL-37. RESULTS: Serum IL-37 levels were upregulated in schistosomiasis patients, and this increased level of IL-37 protein apparently alleviated the liver granuloma of mice in infection models. It also could induce liver and peritoneal macrophages to polarize to the M2 phenotype in S. japonicum-infected mice. The S. japonicum-infected mice injected with CPP-IgG(2)Fc-IL-37 group exhibited the most obvious improvement in inflammatory reaction against the liver granuloma. The number and ratio of M2 macrophages in the liver and peritoneal cavity were significantly higher in the three IL-37 protein groups, especially in the CPP-IgG(2)Fc-IL-37 group, compared to the controls. Similar results were also found regarding liver function damage. IL-37 induced macrophage M2 polarization by promoting AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation in vitro. Among all groups, the activation of AMPK was most significant in the CPP-IgG(2)Fc-IL-37 group, and it was found that SMAD3 could enhance the anti-inflammatory function of IL-37. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that IL-37 was able to promote the polarization of macrophages to the M2 phenotype, thereby inhibiting the development of schistosomiasis. In comparison to the rIL-37 protein, the CPP-IgG(2)Fc-IL-37 protein has the advantages of being effective in small doses and having fewer side effects and a better efficacy. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05420-6.