Journal article
Helminths and the modulation of mucosal inflammation
Current opinion in gastroenterology, Vol.21(1), pp.51-58
01/2005
PMID: 15687885
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease is an emerging illness associated with socioeconomic development. The current epidemic of immune-mediated diseases may result from our loss of exposure to parasitic worms (helminths). This review summarizes some of the recent findings showing that helminths induce regulatory circuits that could prevent and treat inflammatory bowel disease.
Inflammatory bowel disease appears to result from a dysregulated immune response. Although genes influence the risk of inflammatory bowel disease, it seems that critical changes in our environment have permitted its expression. One such change is the eradication of helminths. Helminths can impede interleukin-12, interferon gamma, and tumor necrosis factor alpha release and promote interleukin-10, transforming growth factor beta, and regulatory T-cell production. Helminths can prevent and reverse intestinal inflammation in animal models of inflammatory bowel disease. In clinical studies of patients with inflammatory bowel disease, exposure to the helminth Trichuris suis reduces disease activity.
If harboring helminths protects against immune-mediated disease, then these animals must be viewed in a new light. Are there "good" helminths in addition to bad? Instead of being detestable objects marked for eradication, helminths should be viewed as useful animals that may produce important compounds helpful for therapy of human disease.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Helminths and the modulation of mucosal inflammation
- Creators
- David E Elliott - Division of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1009, USA. david-elliott@uiowa.eduRobert W SummersJoel V Weinstock
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Current opinion in gastroenterology, Vol.21(1), pp.51-58
- PMID
- 15687885
- ISSN
- 0267-1379
- eISSN
- 1531-7056
- Grant note
- DK38327 / NIDDK NIH HHS DK58755 / NIDDK NIH HHS DK25295 / NIDDK NIH HHS AI49382 / NIAID NIH HHS DK02428 / NIDDK NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/2005
- Academic Unit
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984094703802771
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