title: Schistosome-Derived Molecules as Modulating Actors of the Immune System and Promising Candidates to Treat Autoimmune and Inflammatory Diseases.
abstract: It is long known that some parasite infections are able to modulate specific pathways of host's metabolism and immune responses. This modulation is not only important in order to understand the host-pathogen interactions and to develop treatments against the parasites themselves but also important in the development of treatments against autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Throughout the life cycle of schistosomes the mammalian hosts are exposed to several biomolecules that are excreted/secreted from the parasite infective stage, named cercariae, from their tegument, present in adult and larval stages, and finally from their eggs. These molecules can induce the activation and modulation of innate and adaptive responses as well as enabling the evasion of the parasite from host defense mechanisms. Immunomodulatory effects of helminth infections and egg molecules are clear, as well as their ability to downregulate proinflammatory cytokines, upregulate anti-inflammatory cytokines, and drive a Th2 type of immune response. We believe that schistosomes can be used as a model to understand the potential applications of helminths and helminth-derived molecules against autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, 70910-900 Brasília, DF, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Molecular, Universidade de Brasília, 70910-900 Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5772-0477
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, 70910-900 Brasília, DF, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade de Brasília, 70910-900 Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gisele Lorranna
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8430-0232
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Silva Santos
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, 70910-900 Brasília, DF, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Universidade de Brasília, 70910-900 Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Herick Sampaio
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2474-8294
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, 70910-900 Brasília, DF, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Microbiana, Universidade de Brasília, 70910-900 Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Anderson Rodrigues Araújo
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, 70910-900 Brasília, DF, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Microbiana, Universidade de Brasília, 70910-900 Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tatiana Amabile
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: de Campos
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, 70910-900 Brasília, DF, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Molecular, Universidade de Brasília, 70910-900 Brasília, DF, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade de Brasília, 70910-900 Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7611-861X
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: de Paulo Martins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006376:Helminths / Q000737:chemistry; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000276:immunology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation; D007249:Inflammation / Q000628:therapy*; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D012547:Schistosoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000947:Antigens, Helminth