Systemic production of nitric oxide during severe asthma: immonumodulation by the helminth echinococcus granulosus

Background Several studies highlight the implication of nitric oxide (NO) in the airways inflammation during asthma. Moreover, asthma is thought to be associated with a systemic inflammation. However, little is known about the systemic production of NO in asmathic patients. In this sense, our aim was to evaluate the in vivo and ex vivo production of NO in Algerian patients with severe asthma. Moreover, the effect of helminthes infection on asthma is still inconclusive. In this sense, the second part of this study aims to investigate the effect of the helminth Echinococcus granulosus on this production. This parasite causes cyst formation particularly in lungs and liver.