Table I.
Selected parasite-derived molecules with activity in immune-mediated diseases
| Immune modulatory effect | Example parasite product | Mechanism of action | Disease models in which efficacy is shown | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suppression of innate and adaptive immune cell activation | A viteae ES-62 | Nonconventional signaling through TLR4, leading to sequestration of PKC-α | Asthma, atopic dermatitis, SLE, and arthritis | 106, 107, 108 |
| Suppression of antigen presentation | S mansoni ω-1 | Degradation of DC mRNA, preventing IL-12 secretion | NOD diabetes, metabolic homeostasis | 73, 105, 109 |
| F hepatica FhHDM-1 | Inhibition of vacuolar ATPase resulting in reduced endolysosomal acidification | Sepsis | 110, 111 | |
| Cystatins: A viteae Av17 (AvCystatin), B malayi Bm-CPI-2, N brasiliensis Nippocystatin |
Inhibition of cysteine proteases required for antigen presentation; induction of IL-10 through signaling events downstream of an unknown receptor (Av17) | Asthma, colitis | 104, 112, 113, 114, 115 | |
| Suppression of ILC2 responses | H polygyrus HES | Suppression of ILC2-inducing IL-33 responses | Asthma | 103 |
| Induction of Treg cells | H polygyrus HES | Secreted TGF-β mimic ligates host TGF-β receptor | Asthma | 45 |
| S mansoni SEA/ω-1 | Induction of tolerogenic DCs, which produce TGF-β and RA | Type I diabetes | 46, 109 |
Bm-CPI-2, Brugia malayi cysteine protease inhibitor 2; FhHDM-1, Fasciola hepatica helminth defense molecule 1; HES, H polygyrus excretory secretory products; Hp-CPI, H polygyrus cysteine protease inhibitor; ILC2, type 2 innate lymphoid cell; PKC, protein kinase C; RA, retinoic acid; SEA, Schistosoma mansoni soluble egg antigen; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus; TLR, Toll-like receptor.