Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY
Volume 39, Issue 4, Pages 457-464Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2008.08.007
Keywords
Schistosoma mansoni; Arthritis; Cytokines; IL-17; Receptor activator of NF kappa B (RANKL)
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Funding
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science [18590411]
- Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan [H18-Shinko-Ippan-008, H19-Ikoku-Shitei-004]
- Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research [18590411] Funding Source: KAKEN
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Various experimental and epidemiological studies have demonstrated that helminth infections affect outcomes of allergic or autoimmune disorders. Here, we examined the effects of Schistosoma mansoni infection on mouse collagen-induced arthritis, one of the most widely used animal models for rheumatoid arthritis. Male DBA/1 mice were infected with S. mansoni 2 weeks prior to being immunized with type 11 collagen (IIC). Cytokine mRNA expression in mouse paws, cytokine production by ConA-stimulated spleen cells, and anti-IIC antibodies were evaluated in addition to the severity of arthritis. S. mansoni infection significantly reduced the severity of arthritis. Anti-IIC IgG and IgG2a levels were lower in infected than uninfected mice. With regard to cytokine producing potentials in the infected mice, the down-regulation of Th1 (IFN gamma) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF alpha and IL-17A), and up-regulation of Th2 (IL-4) and an anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) were observed. In addition, real-time PCR revealed that the augmentation of pro-inflammatory mediators such as IL-1 beta. IL-6 and receptor activator of NF kappa B in inflamed paws was abrogated by S. mansoni infection. In conclusion, schistosome infection reduced the severity Of autoimmune arthritis via systemic and local suppression of pro-inflammatory mediators, suggesting the potential of parasite-derived materials as therapeutic agents against rheumatoid arthritis. (C) 2008 Australian Society for Parasitology Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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