Abstract:

Objective To investigate the differential mRNA expression and tissue distribution of wnt ［wingless-type mouse mammary tumor virus（MMTV）integration site family，wnt］ gene members wnt1, wnt2, wnt4, wnt5,  wnt11A and wnt11B in protoscoleces and adult worms of Echinococcus granulosus. Methods The mRNA expression of wnt1, wnt2, wnt4, wnt5,  wnt11A and wnt11B was determined by qRT-PCR. Tissue distribution of wnt1, wnt2, wnt4, wnt5, wnt11A and wnt11B in Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces was determined by the whole-mount in situ hybridization. Results The qRT-PCR results showed that the mRNA expression levels of wnt1 and wnt2 in the adult worms were 1.49 （P>0.05） and 2.53 folds（P<0.05） of those in the protoscoleces, respectively. The mRNA expression levels of wnt4, wnt5,  wnt11A and wnt11B in the protoscoleces were 25.00（P<0.01）, 33.33（P<0.01）, 14.29（P<0.01） and 1.03 folds（P>0.05） of those in the adult worms, respectively. In brief, there was no significant difference of mRNA expression in wnt2 and wnt11B between protoscoleces and adult, but there was a significant difference of mRNA expression in wnt1, wnt4, wnt5 and wnt11A between protoscoleces and adults. Results of the whole-mount in situ hybridization showed that in protoscoleces wnt1 was mainly localized in the epidermal tissue, wnt2 in suckers, wnt4 in suckers and rostellum, wnt5 and wnt11B in suckers and epidermal tissue, and wnt11A in rostellum and hooks. Conclusion The mRNA expression of wnt2 in adult E. granulosus was higher than that in protoscoleces, and the mRNA expression ofwnt4, wnt5,  wnt11A and wnt11B in protoscoleces was higher than that in the adult worms. The six wnt gene family members were all distributed in the forward region of protoscoleces.

Key words: Echinococcus granulosus, wnt gene, Protoscolex, Adult, Differential expression