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Infection with the roundworm Toxocara canis leads to exacerbation of experimental allergic airway inflammation
Author(s) -
Pinelli E.,
Brandes S.,
Dormans J.,
Gremmer E.,
Van Loveren H.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2007.02908.x
Subject(s) - immunology , toxocara canis , eosinophilia , exacerbation , canis , inflammation , allergy , allergic inflammation , sensitization , ccl11 , immunoglobulin e , medicine , biology , helminths , eotaxin , chemokine , antibody , paleontology
Summary Background Epidemiological studies performed in developing as well as in western countries suggest that infection with Toxocara canis contributes to the development of atopic diseases. Objectives To investigate the association between infection with this helminth and allergy, we examined the effect of T. canis infection on experimental allergic airway inflammation. Methods BALB/c mice were infected by oral administration with 500 embryonated T. canis eggs followed by ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and challenge to induce allergic airway inflammation. Results Infection with T. canis in combination with OVA treatment leads to exacerbation of pulmonary inflammation, eosinophilia, airway hyperresponsiveness, OVA specific and total IgE. Relative quantification of cytokine expression in the lungs of these mice showed increased expression of IL‐4 compared with mice that were only T. canis infected or OVA treated. Increased expression of IL‐5 and IL‐10 was measured in the lungs of T. canis ‐infected or OVA‐treated mice compared with controls; however, combining infection and OVA treatment did not significantly change the expression of these cytokines. Conclusion A previous infection with T. canis leads to exacerbation of experimental allergic airway inflammation. These results have important consequences for findings on the helminths–allergy association. Several factors, including parasite species, infection of definitive vs. accidental host, parasite load and timing of infection, may influence whether an infection with helminths protects one from or enhances allergic manifestations.