Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2017 Oct;39(10).
doi: 10.1111/pim.12460. Epub 2017 Sep 6.

Secreted products of Fasciola hepatica inhibit the induction of T cell responses that mediate allergy

C M Finlay  1 , A M Stefanska  1 , M M Coleman  1 , H Jahns  2 , J P Cassidy  2 , R M McLoughlin  3 , K H G Mills  1
Affiliations

Secreted products of Fasciola hepatica inhibit the induction of T cell responses that mediate allergy

C M Finlay et al. Parasite Immunol. 2017 Oct.

Abstract

There is evidence from epidemiology studies of a negative association between infection with helminth parasites and the development of allergy and asthma. Here, we demonstrate that the excretory/secretory products of the helminth Fasciola hepatica (FHES) protected mice against ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma when administered at time of allergen sensitization. FHES reduced the accumulation of mucus, eosinophils and lymphocytes into the airways of allergen-challenged mice. Furthermore, FHES treatment suppressed Th2 responses in the airways. Interestingly, systemic administration of FHES at allergen challenge had no effect on airway inflammation, demonstrating that alum-induced Th2 response is set following initial allergen sensitization. Our findings highlight the immunomodulatory potential of molecules secreted by F. hepatica.

Keywords: Fasciola hepatica; allergy/atopy; asthma; immune modulation.

PubMed Disclaimer