The killing of newborn larvae of Trichinella spiralis by eosinophil peroxidase in vitro

Abstract

Helminth infections in mammals are characterized by a high level of eosinophils in parasitized tissues and blood, and it has recently been suggested that these cells have a direct parasiticidal effect. Newborn larvae of Trichinella spiralis can be killed within 20 min by incubation at room temperature in a cell-free system, including purified human eosinophil peroxidase (EPO), H2O2 and chloride at pH 5.5. Killing was measured by microscopic observation of the larvae. The larvicidal effect was dependent on each component of the EPO/H2O2/Cl- system and could be prevented by using SO4(2-) instead of Cl-. Killing was totally inhibited by sodium azide and catalase, and substantially by bovine serum albumin, a protein that is an effective scavenger for HOCl. Since larvae could also be killed directly by HOCl under these conditions and EPO is able to oxidize Cl- to hypochlorous acid, it is very likely that the larvicidal effect of the EPO system is due to formation of hypochlorous acid. It is proposed that in vivo, the combination of EPO, which is exocytosed onto the surface of the parasite, and H2O2, which is generated by stimulated eosinophils, is responsible for the larvicidal effect.