title: Heligmosomoides polygyrus immunomodulatory factor (IMF), targets T-lymphocytes.
abstract: Experiments were performed to investigate the immunological site of action of an immunomodulatory factor (IMF), isolated from the gastrointestinal nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus. IMF inhibited antibody production in murine and human 'T-helper (Th-2) driven' immunoassays. The effects were mediated via T lymphocytes as T cell-depleted cultures failed to respond to IMF, a result confirmed by prepulsing discrete cell subsets with the immunomodulant. Although the molecular nature and mode of action of IMF has yet to be determined, it would appear to be a relatively small non-proteinaceous molecule. From this data, we suggest that H. polygyrus secretes a systemically-active IMF from the intestinal lumen, to down-regulate Th-2 cell development in order to promote its survival in a potentially immunologically hostile environment.
authors.affiliation: Knoll Pharmaceuticals, Research Department R3, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Telford
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Appleby
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Pritchard
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000737:chemistry; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019286:Endopeptidase K / Q000494:pharmacology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009351:Nematospiroides dubius / Q000276:immunology*; D010767:Phosphorylcholine / Q000276:immunology; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism