title: Schistosoma japonicum egg antigens stimulate CD4 CD25 T cells and modulate airway inflammation in a murine model of asthma.
abstract: A number of epidemiological and clinical studies have suggested an inverse association between allergy and helminth infection, such as Schistosomiasis. Therefore, we hypothesize that Schistosoma japonicum egg antigens, a type of native antigen, can induce production of CD4(+) CD25(+) T cells with regulatory activity, modulating airway inflammation and inhibiting asthma development. The frequency of CD4(+) CD25(+) T cells was determined by flow cytometry for mice treated with ovalbumin (OVA), CD25(+) depletion/OVA, schistosome egg antigens, schistosome egg antigens/OVA and for control mice. The ability of CD25(+) T cells from these mice to suppress T-cell proliferation and cytokine production was investigated both in vivo and in vitro. Results showed that the CD4(+) CD25(+) T cells of OVA-treated mice exhibited impaired control of dysregulated mucosal T helper 2 responses compared to the controls (P < 0.05). Depletion of CD25(+) cells accelerated OVA-induced airway inflammation and increased the expression of interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-4. Treatment with schistosome egg antigens increased the number and suppressive activity of CD4(+) CD25(+) T cells, which made IL-10, but little IL-4. In a murine model of asthma, S. japonicum egg antigens decreased the expression of Th2 cytokines, relieved antigen-induced airway inflammation, and inhibited asthma development. Thus, we provided evidence that S. japonicum egg antigens induced the production of CD4(+) CD25(+) T cells, resulting in constitutive immunosuppressive activity and inhibition of asthma development. These results reveal a novel form of protection against asthma and suggest a mechanistic explanation for the protective effect of helminth infection on the development of allergy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, PR China.
authors.forename: Jianghua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jiaqing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yanfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Minjun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Nanxiong
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Chuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000276:immunology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000032:analysis; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D016753:Interleukin-10; D010047:Ovalbumin