Efficacy and mechanism of action of arachidonic acid in the treatment of hamsters infected with Schistosoma mansoni or Schistosoma haematobium

Efficacy and Safety of Arachidonic Acid for Treatment of Schistosoma mansoni-Infected Children in Menoufiya, Egypt

“…6,7 Transient and self-limiting abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting were also the most frequent symptoms observed in patients treated with mefloquine and mefloquine combined with artesunate. 38,40 Conversely, not a single child reported the slightest adverse event during or after therapy with ARA, totally confirming our observations in experimental hosts [15][16][17] and in accordance with the results of plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids analyses. ARA is a nutrient and could have been used to the advantage of children in these poor rural settings, because no increase in ARA or DHA plasma levels was observed 3 days after the end of treatment (Supplemental Table 1).…”

“…[12][13][14][15] Arachidonic acid (ARA), also termed all-cis 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid, is an omega-6 fatty acid 20:4 (n-6) that is present in the phospholipids (especially phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, and phosphatidylinositides) of membranes of the body's cells, and it was recently found to be a potent schistosomicide able to in vitro kill juvenile and adult male and female Schistosoma mansoni and S. haematobium. [15][16][17] The proposed ARA killing mechanism was activation of parasite surface membrane-associated neutral sphingomyelinase with consequent apical bilayer SM hydrolysis and disruption of the SM-based hydrogen barrier shielding the worm from the hostile elements of the immune system. [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] Expectedly, ARA was shown to display significant therapeutic effects in mice and hamsters infected with S. mansoni or S. haematobium, inducing 50-78% reductions in worm burdens and worm egg loads.…”

“…[15][16][17] The proposed ARA killing mechanism was activation of parasite surface membrane-associated neutral sphingomyelinase with consequent apical bilayer SM hydrolysis and disruption of the SM-based hydrogen barrier shielding the worm from the hostile elements of the immune system. [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] Expectedly, ARA was shown to display significant therapeutic effects in mice and hamsters infected with S. mansoni or S. haematobium, inducing 50-78% reductions in worm burdens and worm egg loads. 16,17 ARA treatment of mice and hamsters was safe.…”

“…[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] Expectedly, ARA was shown to display significant therapeutic effects in mice and hamsters infected with S. mansoni or S. haematobium, inducing 50-78% reductions in worm burdens and worm egg loads. 16,17 ARA treatment of mice and hamsters was safe.…”

Natural Schistosoma mansoni Infection in the Wild Reservoir Nectomys squamipes Leads to Excessive Lipid Droplet Accumulation in Hepatocytes in the Absence of Liver Functional Impairment

“…The killing effect of AA on S . mansoni parasites is due to its ability to activate the parasite tegument-bound neutral sphingomyelinase, with subsequent hydrolysis of the apical lipid bilayer sphingomyelin molecules, thus allowing hostile access of the immune system, including antibodies [60–62]. Therefore, the identification of a high pool of hepatic AA during the natural S .…”