Immunosuppressive proteins secreted by the gastrointestinal nematode parasite Heligmosomoides polygyrus.
Experiments are described in which the conditions for the production, assay and isolation of immunomodulatory factors from the excretory-secretory (ES) products of Heligmosomoides polygyrus have been standardized. For the inhibition of an in vitro antibody response to keyhole limpet haemocyanin, immunosuppressive activity was most reproducibly produced by 10-20-day-old adult worms maintained in culture for 24 h. This activity was relatively stable at room temperature, at 50 degrees C and pH 2, but was destroyed by boiling. Immunosuppressive activity was eluted from Sephadex G-100 in fractions preceding those containing the bulk of ES proteins, and resolved on sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with molecular masses of 67, 54 and 20 kDa. The relative purity of these factors was confirmed by iso-electric focusing, where immunosuppressive activity was associated with proteins of pI values of approximately 4.2 and 4.35.
Pritchard
D I
DI
Department of Life Science, University of Nottingham, University Park, U.K.
Lawrence
C E
CE
Appleby
P
P
Gibb
I A
IA
Glover
K
K
D000818:Animals; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009351:Nematospiroides dubius / Q000276:immunology*; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
D007155:Immunologic Factors