Trichinella spiralis muscle larvae release extracellular vesicles with immunomodulatory properties

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) represent a newly discovered but universal communication tool between cells or organisms. However, few data exist on nematode EVs and none for Trichinella spiralis. Here, we aimed to investigate whether T spiralis muscle larvae produce EVs, whether they carry immunomodulatory proteins and whether they have a role in immunomodulation as a component of excretory-secretory muscle larvae products (ES L1).

EVs were enriched from conditioned medium of T spiralis muscle larvae. Transmission electron microscopy images showed T spiralis EVs to be 30-80 nm in size, and Western blot confirmed the presence of two out of three glycoproteins with the immunodominant epitope characteristic for muscle larvae of the genus Trichinella. Using a peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) stimulation assay, it was shown that these EVs elevated production of IL10 and IL6.

T spiralis muscle larvae produce EVs. Those EVs carry immunomodulatory proteins and have the capacity independently to induce regulatory responses in the same way as the T spiralis excretory-secretory muscle larvae products from which they were isolated.