Trichinella spiralis immunomodulation: an interactive multifactorial process

Abstract

Many epidemiological data support the postulate that infection with helminths might provide some protection against allergic and autoimmune diseases. Hence arises the concept that helminths strongly influence the immune system and enable protective pathways against these hyperimmune-associated disorders. This review discusses how Trichinella spiralis can make the immune system smarter in dealing with hyperimmune-associated disorders. T. spiralis possesses the capacity to direct the immune system towards a mixed Th1/Th2 phenotype with predominance of Th2 response, or it may interfere with dendritic cell maturation, induce the alternatively activated macrophages and elicit the regulatory arm of the immune response via Treg or regulatory B cells.