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Heligmosomoides polygyrus immunomodulatory factor (IMF), targets T‐lymphocytes
Author(s) -
Gary Telford,
Wheeler Dj,
Peter A. Appleby,
Bowen Jg,
Pritchard Di
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
parasite immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1365-3024
pISSN - 0141-9838
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3024.1998.00190.x
Subject(s) - heligmosomoides polygyrus , biology , immunology , immune system
Experiments were performed to investigate the immunological site of action of an immunomodulatory factor (IMF), isolated from the gastrointestinal nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus . IMF inhibited antibody production in murine and human ‘T‐helper (Th‐2) driven’ immunoassays. The effects were mediated via T lymphocytes as T cell‐depleted cultures failed to respond to IMF, a result confirmed by prepulsing discrete cell subsets with the immunomodulant. Although the molecular nature and mode of action of IMF has yet to be determined, it would appear to be a relatively small non‐proteinaceous molecule. From this data, we suggest that H. polygyrus secretes a systemically‐active IMF from the intestinal lumen, to down‐regulate Th‐2 cell development in order to promote its survival in a potentially immunologically hostile environment .