Schistosoma mansoni infection but not egg antigen promotes recovery from colitis in outbred NMRI mice.
BACKGROUND
The ability of intestinal helminths to manipulate the immune system of their host towards a Th2 response has been proposed to modulate auto-immune and allergic diseases.


OBJECTIVE
This initial study investigated the anti-inflammatory potential of S. mansoni and soluble egg antigen (SEA) in a murine model of colitis.


METHODS
Colitis was induced in female NMRI mice by 5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) for 7 days, either 9 weeks post-infection with S. mansoni or during treatment with SEA. In addition to clinical signs of colitis, colon histology, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry of leukocytes were performed. Colon cytokines were measured using a quantitative real-time technique.


RESULTS
Infection with cercariae of S. mansoni attenuated DSS-induced colitis. Clinical symptoms such as weight loss and shortening of colon length were significantly prevented. Histological scores and cell infiltration were affected and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the colons of infected DSS colitis mice was reduced. In contrast, application of SEA failed to improve colitis, even though some findings like earlier manifestation of inflammation and local induction of Th2 cytokines were similar to the effects of cercarial infection.


CONCLUSIONS
The results presented here suggest that SEA treatment could not protect mice from acute colitis. However, both infection with S. mansoni and injection of SEA affect mucosal immune responses.
Bodammer
Peggy
P
Division of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany. peggy.bodammer@uni-rostock.de
Waitz
Grit
G
Loebermann
Micha
M
Holtfreter
Martha Charlotte
MC
Maletzki
Claudia
C
Krueger
Marzena Renata
MR
Nizze
Horst
H
Emmrich
Joerg
J
Reisinger
Emil Christian
EC
D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D016264:Dextran Sulfate / Q000009:adverse effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D010063:Ovum / Q000276:immunology*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000276:immunology*; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000276:immunology
D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D016207:Cytokines; D016264:Dextran Sulfate