Echinococcus multilocularis protoscoleces and hepatic cell activity in vitro.

E. multilocularis protoscoleces were co-cultured with hepatic cells in the presence of IAR 20 or BALB/c 3T3 cells. Hepatocyte activity was determined by assaying transferrin and albumin secretion in culture media. The level of these 2 plasma proteins is higher in hepatic/BALB/c 3T3 co-culture medium. In the presence of parasites, the transferrin level is unchanged while the production of albumin is stimulated during the first 48 h. Our results suggest that the albumin production could be attributed to a complex cellular cooperation between hepatocytes and activated Kupffer cells as previously observed in the acute inflammatory reaction.