IL-10 regulates Th17 response to inhibit hepatobiliary injury caused by Clonorchis sinensis infection in C57BL/6J mice

Clonorchiasis caused by Clonorchis sinensis is a mainly foodborne parasitic disease. It can lead to hepatobiliary duct inflammation, fibrosis, obstructive jaundice, liver cirrhosis, and even cholangiocarcinoma. Interleukin (IL)-10 is an immune-regulatory cytokine which plays an immunosuppressive role during infection. Our previous study found that IL-10 was increased in mice with C. sinensis infection. However, the role and mechanism of IL-10 playing in hepatobiliary injury induced by C. sinensis infection remain unknown. Herein, Il10(+/+) mice and Il10(+/-) C57BL/6J mice were infected with C. sinensis. It was found that IL-10 deficiency aggravated biliary hyperplasia and exacerbated periductal fibrosis induced by C. sinensis infection. Moreover, IL-10 deficiency increased CD4(+)T cells and CD8(+)T cells but not macrophages in the liver of mice with infection. There were no apparent differences in Th1 and Treg cells between Il10(+/+) and Il10(+/-) mice infected with C. sinensis. However, the proportion of Th17 cells in CD4(+)T cells in Il10(+/-) infected mice was significantly higher than that in Il10(+/+) infected mice. IL-10 deficiency also enhanced the increase of Th17 cells induced by ESPs stimulation in vitro. Taken together, our results suggest that IL-10 plays a protective role in hepatobiliary injury in C57BL/6J mice induced by C. sinensis infection via inhibiting Th17 cells, which could deepen our understanding of the immunopathology of clonorchiasis.