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Helminth infections: protection from atopic disorders
Hermelijn H Smits1, Franca C Hartgers, Maria Yazdanbakhsh
1Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands. H.H.Smits@lumc.nl
Current Allergy and Asthma Reports
|January 22, 2005
Summary
Helminth infections may protect against allergies by suppressing the immune system through regulatory T cells. Identifying helminth molecules could lead to new allergy treatments.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Allergy Research
Background:
- Rising rates of immunologic disorders, like childhood allergy, are observed in Westernized countries.
- Reduced exposure to gut microbes is hypothesized to cause immune dysregulation and increase allergy prevalence.
- Helminth infections are increasingly implicated in modulating immune responses relevant to allergy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of helminth infections in immune regulation concerning allergic disorders.
- To investigate the mechanisms by which helminths influence T-cell responses.
- To identify helminth-derived molecules with therapeutic potential for allergic conditions.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of helminth-induced immune responses in host systems.
- Investigation of T-helper (Th) cell polarization and T-cell hyporesponsiveness.
- Examination of regulatory T-cell induction by helminths.
Main Results:
- Helminths induce polarized Th2 responses and T-cell hyporesponsiveness.
- Helminths promote suppressed host immune responses via regulatory T-cell priming.
- This regulatory T-cell induction is linked to protection against allergic disorders.
Conclusions:
- Helminth-induced regulatory T cells offer a potential mechanism for allergy protection.
- Characterizing specific helminth immunomodulatory molecules is crucial for therapeutic development.
- Targeting these molecules could lead to novel treatments for allergic manifestations.