title: Modulation of a heterologous immune response by the products of Ascaris suum.
abstract: Helminth infections are among the most potent stimulators of Th2-type immune responses and have been widely demonstrated to modify responsiveness to both nonparasite antigens and other infectious agents in a nonspecific manner in infected animals. We investigated the immunomodulatory properties of pseudocoelomic body fluid from adult Ascaris suum gastrointestinal helminths (ABF) and its defined allergen (ABA-1) by examining their effects on the immune response to a heterologous antigen, ovalbumin. Our results indicate that ABF has potent immunomodulatory activity and that the effects observed are consistent with skewing towards a Th2-type response rather than induction of anergy. Our findings show that the immunomodulatory activities of ABF are associated with components other than the major constituent and putative allergen, ABA-1. Furthermore, the allergic responses to ABA-1 are not a result of an intrinsic allergenicity of the protein but are more a reflection of the wider induction of a Th2 response by the infection. Importantly, the induction of interleukin-10 by ABF also suggests that T regulatory cells may play a role in immunomodulation of immune responses by parasitic helminths.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee DD1 9SY, USA.
authors.forename: Jacqueline C M
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Paterson
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Garside
authors.forename: Malcolm W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Catherine E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Lawrence
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens; D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology*; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D017165:Ascaris suum / Q000276:immunology*; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000209:etiology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000502:physiology; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: C093689:ABA-1 protein, Ascaris suum; D000485:Allergens; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D010047:Ovalbumin