Infection with Hymenolepis diminuta is more effective than daily corticosteroids in blocking chemically induced colitis in mice.
OBJECTIVE
To compare infection with the tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta, with steroid (dexamethasone) administration in the inhibition of dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid- (DNBS-) induced colitis in mice.


METHODS
Mice were treated with DNBS +/- infected with H. diminuta or treated with daily dexamethasone (2 mg/Kg, ip.) and were assessed 72 hours post-DNBS by the calculation of disease activity and histological damage scores, and spleen cell cytokine production.


RESULTS
H. diminuta-infected mice showed increased IL-4 and IL-10 production by spleen cells compared to other groups and were protected from DNBS-induced colitis. In contrast, there was little benefit of dexamethasone in the treatment of colitis. Collagen deposition in the colon was not different between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
H. diminuta was superior to dexamethasone in the prevention of DNBS-induced colitis and did not result in additional side effects (i.e., collagen deposition). Comparisons with current therapeutics and long-term followup to studies are essential if "helminth therapy" is to become a viable treatment for specific inflammatory diseases in the gut or other tissues.
Melon
Alexandra
A
Gastrointestinal Research Group, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Calvin, Phoebe & Joan Snyder Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 4N1.
Wang
Arthur
A
Phan
Van
V
McKay
Derek M
DM
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001557:Benzenesulfonates / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000469:parasitology; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006925:Hymenolepiasis / Q000469:parasitology*; D048190:Hymenolepis diminuta; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001557:Benzenesulfonates; D016207:Cytokines; C007488:dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid; D003907:Dexamethasone; D003094:Collagen