Book chapter
Helminthic Therapy: Using Worms to Treat Immune-Mediated Disease
Pathogen-Derived Immunomodulatory Molecules, pp.157-166
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, Springer New York
2009
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4419-1601-3_12
PMID: 20054982
Abstract
There is an epidemic of immune-mediated disease in highly-developed industrialized countries. Such diseases, like inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis and asthma increase in prevalence as populations adopt modern hygienic practices. These practices prevent exposure to parasitic worms (helminths). Epidemiologic studies suggest that people who carry helminths have less immune-mediated disease. Mice colonized with helminths are protected from disease in models of colitis, encephalitis, Type 1 diabetes and asthma. Clinical trials show that exposure to helminths reduce disease activity in patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. This chapter reviews some of the work showing that colonization with helminths alters immune responses, against dysregulated inflammation. These helminth-host immune interactions have potentially important implications for the treatment of immune-mediated diseases.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Helminthic Therapy: Using Worms to Treat Immune-Mediated Disease
- Creators
- David E Elliott - Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, USAJoel V Weinstock - Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department of Internal Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, USA
- Resource Type
- Book chapter
- Publication Details
- Pathogen-Derived Immunomodulatory Molecules, pp.157-166
- Publisher
- Springer New York; New York, NY
- Series
- Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
- DOI
- 10.1007/978-1-4419-1601-3_12
- PMID
- 20054982
- ISSN
- 0065-2598
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2009
- Academic Unit
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984094619602771
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