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Lymphatic filariasis: parallels between the immunology of infection in humans and mice
Author(s) -
Lawrence Rachel A.,
Devaney Eileen
Publication year - 2001
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.1365-3024.2001.00396.x
Subject(s) - immunology , biology , immune system , immunity , lymphatic filariasis , lymphatic system , filariasis , helminths
Mouse models of Brugia infection have provided much useful quantitative and qualitative information on the immune response elicited by different life cycle stages of filarial worms. Many parallels exist between the immune response in the mouse and the infected human and in this review we highlight areas of topical interest, including the induction of specific cytokine resposes and their role in immunomodulation and protective immunity. These studies have reinforced the concept that different life cycle stages of filarial parasites each have their own mechanism of modulating responses so that potentially inflammatory IFN‐γ responses are downregulated. While the precise mechanisms of protective immunity remain to be defined, studies in the mouse have suggested novel pathways, including a possible role for granulocytes.