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Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR): balance for survival in parasitic infections

Marion M Chan1, Kyle W Evans, Andrea R Moore

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Temple University, 3400 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA. marion.chan@temple.edu

Journal of Biomedicine & Biotechnology
|February 20, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Parasites manipulate host immunity using peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) to suppress inflammation, aiding chronic infections. Targeting these pathways could offer new therapies for parasitic diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Parasitology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Parasitic infections trigger diverse host immune responses aimed at pathogen elimination and tissue protection.
  • Immune regulation is crucial for balancing host defense and preventing self-damage during parasitic invasion.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review how parasites manipulate host immunity through specific molecular pathways.
  • To analyze the role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) in parasitic infections.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on host-parasite interactions and immune signaling.
  • Analysis of the molecular mechanisms involving PPARs, type 2 cytokines, and arachidonic acid metabolism.

Main Results:

  • Parasites activate immunosuppressive nuclear factors, PPARs, using type 2 cytokines and fatty acids.
  • PPARs limit type 1 immunity (pro-inflammatory macrophages) and promote alternately activated macrophages to control inflammation.
  • This balance is crucial for establishing chronic infections.

Conclusions:

  • Nuclear factors like PPARs play a pivotal role in balancing pro- and anti-inflammatory signals during chronic parasitic infections.
  • PPAR ligands may hold potential as combination therapeutics to mitigate host pathology in parasitic diseases.

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