Abstract
The nematode parasites that cause human lymphatic filariasis survive for long periods in their vascular habitats despite continual exposure to host cells. Since prostanoids formed from arachidonic acid can modulate interactions among platelets, leukocytes, and endothelial cells, we examined whether intravascular nematode parasites can elaborate prostanoids. Microfilariae of Brugia malayi utilize exogenous and endogenous arachidonic acid to generate and release two predominant prostanoids, prostacyclin and prostaglandin E2. Filarial metabolism of host fatty acids to form these vasodilatory, antiaggregatory, and immunomodulatory eicosanoids provides a means by which these helminthic parasites may influence host immune and other cellular responses.
Full Text
The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (321.0 KB).
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Frayha G. J., Smyth J. D. Lipid metabolism in parasitic helminths. Adv Parasitol. 1983;22:309–387. doi: 10.1016/s0065-308x(08)60465-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Fusco A. C., Salafsky B., Delbrook K. Schistosoma mansoni: production of cercarial eicosanoids as correlates of penetration and transformation. J Parasitol. 1986 Jun;72(3):397–404. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Fusco A. C., Salafsky B., Kevin M. B. Schistosoma mansoni: eicosanoid production by cercariae. Exp Parasitol. 1985 Feb;59(1):44–50. doi: 10.1016/0014-4894(85)90055-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Leid R. W., McConnell L. A. PGE2 generation and release by the larval stage of the cestode, taenia taeniaeformis. Prostaglandins Leukot Med. 1983 Jul;11(3):317–323. doi: 10.1016/0262-1746(83)90043-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Leid R. W., McConnell L. A. Thromboxane A2 generation by the larval cestode, Taenia taeniaeformis. Clin Immunol Immunopathol. 1983 Jul;28(1):67–76. doi: 10.1016/0090-1229(83)90189-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Liu L. X., Weller P. F. Brugia malayi: microfilarial polyunsaturated fatty acid composition and synthesis. Exp Parasitol. 1989 Aug;69(2):198–203. doi: 10.1016/0014-4894(89)90188-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Longworth D. L., Foster D. W., Dvorak A. M., Weller P. F. Incorporation of arachidonic acid by microfilariae of Brugia malayi. J Infect Dis. 1985 Dec;152(6):1317–1323. doi: 10.1093/infdis/152.6.1317. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Longworth D. L., King D. C., Weller P. F. Rapid uptake and esterification of arachidonic acid and other fatty acids by microfilariae of Brugia malayi. Mol Biochem Parasitol. 1987 Apr;23(3):275–284. doi: 10.1016/0166-6851(87)90034-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Philipp M., Davis T. B., Storey N., Carlow C. K. Immunity in filariasis: perspectives for vaccine development. Annu Rev Microbiol. 1988;42:685–716. doi: 10.1146/annurev.mi.42.100188.003345. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Plescia O. J., Racis S. Prostaglandins as physiological immunoregulators. Prog Allergy. 1988;44:153–171. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Powell W. S. High-pressure liquid chromatography of arachidonic acid metabolites. Adv Prostaglandin Thromboxane Leukot Res. 1985;15:53–57. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Salmon J. A., Flower R. J. Extraction and thin-layer chromatography of arachidonic acid metabolites. Methods Enzymol. 1982;86:477–493. doi: 10.1016/0076-6879(82)86219-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Schad V., Phipps R. P. Prostaglandin E2-dependent induction of B cell unresponsiveness. Role of surface Ig and Fc receptors. J Immunol. 1989 Oct 1;143(7):2127–2132. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Taylor D. W., Goddard J. M., McMahon J. E. Isolation and purification of microfilariae from nodules of Onchocerca volvulus. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1984;78(5):707–708. doi: 10.1016/0035-9203(84)90255-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]