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Determinants for resistance and susceptibility to microfilaraemia in Litomosoides sigmodontis filariasis.
- Source :
-
Parasitology [Parasitology] 2001 Jun; Vol. 122 (Pt 6), pp. 641-9. - Publication Year :
- 2001
-
Abstract
- Filarial infections of humans are chronic diseases. Despite an ongoing immune response, adult filariae continuously produce their offspring, the microfilariae (Mf), which are able to persist in sufficient numbers to ensure transmission. In this study, host- and parasite-derived factors, which contribute to persistence of Mf, were investigated using the filariasis model of Litomosoides sigmodontis in mice. Different strains of mice were found to differ widely in their capability to eliminate circulating Mf. Studies of congenic mouse strains showed that early and rapid clearance of Mf was mediated by activation pathways relevant to innate immunity, whereas late or delayed clearance of Mf was pre-determined by MHC-related factors. Genetic knock-out of genes for the MHC class-II molecules totally abrogated resistance. Most interestingly, the presence of only I adult female, but not male worms, renders all mice susceptible, irrespective of the genetic background, enabling Mf to circulate for extended periods of time. Such prolonged microfilaraemia was also observed in L. sigmodontis-infected animals challenged with heterologous Mf of Acanthocheilonema viteae. The use of cytokine gene knock-out mice showed that persistence of L. sigmodontis Mf was facilitated by IL-10, but not by IL-4 or IFN-gamma. In conclusion, irrespective of a resistant or susceptible host genetic background, survival of Mf of L. sigmodontis in mice is decisively regulated by the presence of adult female L. sigmodontis which will skew and exploit immune responses to facilitate the survival and persistence of their offspring in the infected host.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Antibodies, Helminth analysis
Cytokines biosynthesis
Female
Filariasis parasitology
Filarioidea growth & development
Genes, MHC Class II immunology
Host-Parasite Interactions immunology
Immunity, Innate genetics
Immunity, Innate immunology
Interleukin-10 biosynthesis
Interleukin-10 immunology
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred BALB C
Mice, Inbred C3H
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Mice, Inbred DBA
Mice, Knockout genetics
Mice, Knockout parasitology
Microfilariae growth & development
Parasitemia parasitology
Spleen parasitology
Filariasis immunology
Filarioidea immunology
Microfilariae immunology
Parasitemia immunology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0031-1820
- Volume :
- 122
- Issue :
- Pt 6
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Parasitology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 11444617
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1017/s0031182001007892