Suppression of host Th1-type granulomatous inflammation by Taenia solium metacestodes is related to down-regulation of osteopontin gene expression

I. Chuang Wang, Ping Chin Fan, Sen Chi Lu, Chia Kwung Fan, Kua Eyre Su

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Inflammation and granuloma formation in human neurocysticercosis has been attributed to Th1-type immune responses of the host. In the present murine model, over 94% of Taenia solium metacestodes were viable and elicited no granulomatous inflammation, whereas parasites killed by praziquantel treatment elicited rapid granuloma formation that calcified within 2 weeks. Osteopontin (OPN) is a Th1-related cytokine that is up-stream of IL-12 and which may play an essential role in granuloma formation and calcification. OPN mRNA expression was down-regulated in tissues surrounding viable cysticerci, but was up-regulated in inflammatory tissues surrounding degenerating cysticerci. Moreover, co-culture with a viable cysticercus or ES products from these metacestodes led to a decrease in OPN, IFN-γ and IL-12 expression, whereas co-culture with somatic proteins enhanced OPN expression by leukocytes. Addition of recombinant mouse OPN (rmOPN) counteracted the down-regulation of IL-12 and IFN-γ mRNA expression, but not OPN mRNA expression, in leukocyte cultures. Furthermore, injection of rmOPN into the tissues surrounding implanted cysticerci enhanced inflammatory responses while a similar injection of an anti-rmOPN antibody reduced inflammation. These findings suggest that the suppression of host Th1-type granulomatous inflammation by ES products from T. solium metacestodes is related to down-regulation of OPN gene expression.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)239-248
Number of pages10
JournalInternational Journal for Parasitology
Volume38
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2008

Keywords

  • Cysticercosis
  • Granulomatous inflammation
  • IFN-γ
  • IL-12
  • OPN
  • Taenia solium
  • Th1-type responses

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Infectious Diseases

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