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Scientists at the Lancaster University in the UK have discovered that immune responses originally discovered to prevent fungal infections are also important in eliminating Trichinella spiralis, a round worm and the causative agent of trichinosis. People contract trichinellosis by consuming raw or undercooked meat that is infected with Trichinella parasite, in particular game or pork meat. The consumption of contaminated meat contains "feeder cells" of the parasite. Once in the stomach, the "feeder cells" hatch and release infective larvae that then burrow into the lining of the small intestine.
Previously, the immune responses to expel the parasite were based on white blood cells called T-helper 2 cells, specialized in the elimination of gastrointestinal parasites. However, Lancaster scientists have discovered that after this T-helper 2 response, a second T-helper response 17, which has been shown to be specialized before, eliminates fungal infections and some bacterial infections.
In collaboration with Professors Mark Travis and Richard Grencis of the University of Manchester, they were able to determine how these 17 T-helper cells appeared and played a key role in maintaining the necessary intestinal muscle contractions to the elimination of worms. The results were published in the journal PLOS Pathogens and show that mice lacking the ability to activate a signaling molecule essential for the production of T-helper cells 17 have a reduced ability to expel the parasite. Interestingly, they found a delayed transit time in the small intestine, suggesting changes in muscle contraction. By isolating the small intestine, they demonstrated that a key molecule produced from T-helper 17 cells, called IL-17, could increase intestinal contraction and restore levels of this IL-17 in their mouse, which allowed them to expel the parasite.
Dr. John Worthington of Lancaster's Department of Biomedical and Life Sciences led the research: "We were quite surprised by what we found in this study, and normally these immune responses are thought to be very distinctly the type of infection It is well established that the response of T-helper 2 is beneficial in gastrointestinal infections, so any other response is traditionally perceived as an obstacle to the expulsion of the was actually beneficial for the mouse's ability to resolve an infection and get rid of the worm. "
"Our study provides new insights into how the immune system interacts with muscle contraction during intestinal inflammation.Although this infection is very rare in developed countries, we hope this will help us to conceive of new treatments for the many millions of people who suffer from intestinal parasitic infections in the world and may even inform other intestinal diseases involving an impairment of muscle function. "
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Material provided by Lancaster University. Note: Content can be changed for style and length.
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