title: Priming dendritic cells for th2 polarization: lessons learned from helminths and implications for metabolic disorders.
abstract: Nearly one quarter of the world's population is infected with helminth parasites. A common feature of helminth infections is the manifestation of a type 2 immune response, characterized by T helper 2 (Th2) cells that mediate anti-helminth immunity. In addition, recent literature describes a close association between type 2 immune responses and wound repair, suggesting that a Th2 response may concurrently mediate repair of parasite-induced damage. The molecular mechanisms that govern Th2 responses are poorly understood, although it is clear that dendritic cells (DCs), which are the most efficient antigen-presenting cells in the immune system, play a central role. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms by which DCs polarize Th2 cells, examining both helminth antigens and helminth-mediated tissue damage as Th2-inducing triggers. Finally, we discuss the implication of these findings in the context of metabolic disorders, as recent literature indicates that various aspects of the Th2-associated inflammatory response contribute to metabolic homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center , Leiden , Netherlands.
authors.forename: Leonie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hussaarts
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center , Leiden , Netherlands.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yazdanbakhsh
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center , Leiden , Netherlands ; Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center , Leiden , Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Guigas
keywords: Th2 cells; antigen-presenting cells; dendritic cells; helminth; insulin resistance; metabolic diseases; obesity; type 2 inflammation