title: The immunomodulatory parasitic worm product ES-62 reduces lupus-associated accelerated atherosclerosis in a mouse model.
abstract: ES-62 is an anti-inflammatory phosphorylcholine-containing glycoprotein secreted by the filarial nematode Acanthocheilonema viteae. Accelerated atherosclerosis frequently occurs in systemic lupus erythematosus, resulting in substantial cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We examined the effects of ES-62 in the gld.apoE(-/-) mouse model of this condition. Treatment with ES-62 did not substantially modulate renal pathology but caused decreased anti-nuclear autoantibody levels. Moreover, a striking 60% reduction in aortic atherosclerotic lesions was observed, with an associated decrease in macrophages and fibrosis. We believe that these latter findings constitute the first example of a defined parasitic worm product with therapeutic potential in atherosclerosis: ES-62-based drugs may represent a novel approach to control accelerated atherosclerosis in systemic lupus erythematosus.
authors: Renal Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA. Electronic address: aprahami@bu.edu.
authors: Tamar R
authors: TR
authors: Aprahamian
authors: Hematology and Medical Oncology Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors: Xuemei
authors: X
authors: Zhong
authors: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Center for Molecular Medicine (CeMM) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Shahzada
authors: S
authors: Amir
authors: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Center for Molecular Medicine (CeMM) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Christoph J
authors: CJ
authors: Binder
authors: Renal Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors: Lo-Ku
authors: LK
authors: Chiang
authors: Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK.
authors: Lamyaa
authors: L
authors: Al-Riyami
authors: Renal Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors: Raffi
authors: R
authors: Gharakhanian
authors: Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, Glasgow Biomedical Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK.
authors: Margaret M
authors: MM
authors: Harnett
authors: Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK.
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Harnett
authors: Renal Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors: Ian R
authors: IR
authors: Rifkin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000473:pathology; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; C435884:ES-62 protein, Acanthocheilonema viteae; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D007155:Immunologic Factors
keywords: Atherosclerosis; ES-62; Helminth; Systemic lupus erythematosus