The efficacy of therapy with albendazole in mice with parasitic meningitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis.
Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) is involved in the pathogenesis of parasitic meningitis caused by the nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis. The present study evaluated the efficacy of albendazole therapy in BALB/c mice infected with the third stage larvae of this nematode. Albendazole showed a pronounced larvicidal activity. Eosinophil numbers significantly increased in infected mice but decreased upon administration of albendazole. Densitometric scanning indicated that albendazole reduced gelatinolytic activity detected by gelatin-substrate zymography. In the cerebrospinal fluid, albendazole reduced the lytic area intensity of the 94 kDa MMP-9 band by 46.5% within 7 days, and by 51.5% by day 14. Examination of brain tissue revealed a similar pattern of decrease (48.6% by day 7, and 53.9% by day 14). Albendazole may thus be an effective compound for the treatment of angiostrongyliasis through its larvicidal activity and facilitation of an improved inflammatory response via the reduction of MMP-9 activity.
Lan
K P
KP
Institute of Biochemistry, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Wang
C J
CJ
Lai
S C
SC
Chen
K M
KM
Lee
S S
SS
Hsu
J D
JD
Lee
H H
HH
D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017185:Angiostrongylus cantonensis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000469:parasitology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D008581:Meningitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010273:Parasitic Diseases, Animal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000871:Anthelmintics; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D015766:Albendazole