title: Schistosoma mansoni infection but not egg antigen promotes recovery from colitis in outbred NMRI mice.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany. peggy.bodammer@uni-rostock.de
authors.forename: Peggy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bodammer
authors.forename: Grit
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Waitz
authors.forename: Micha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loebermann
authors.forename: Martha Charlotte
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Holtfreter
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maletzki
authors.forename: Marzena Renata
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Krueger
authors.forename: Horst
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nizze
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Emmrich
authors.forename: Emil Christian
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Reisinger
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D016207:Cytokines; D016264:Dextran Sulfate