Macrobiota — helminths as active participants and partners of the microbiota in host intestinal homeostasis

Gause, William C.; Maizels, Rick M.

doi:10.1016/j.mib.2016.04.004

Cited by 68 publications

(74 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Thus, numerous studies in humans as well as in animal models clearly suggest that helminth infections or their products can engender protection from a variety of inflammatory diseases such as allergic disease, autoimmune disease, and inflammatory bowel disease (17,18). In addition, helminths are now known to exert major effects on host metabolic processes both by direct effects and indirectly through interactions with the bacterial microbiota (19).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anthelmintic Therapy Modifies the Systemic and Mycobacterial Antigen-Stimulated Cytokine Profile in Helminth-Latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis Coinfection

et al. 2017

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Helminth infections are known to modulate cytokine responses in latent tuberculosis (LTB). However, very few studies have examined whether this modulation is reversible upon anthelmintic therapy. We measured the systemic and mycobacterial (TB) antigen-stimulated levels of type 1, type 2, type 17, and regulatory cytokines in individuals with LTB and with or without coexistent Strongyloides stercoralis infection before and after anthelmintic therapy. Our data reveal that individuals with LTB and coexistent S. stercoralis infection have significantly lower levels of systemic and TB antigen-stimulated type 1 (gamma interferon [IFN-␥], tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-␣], and interleukin-2 [IL-2]) and type 17 (IL-17A and/or IL-17F) cytokines and significantly higher levels of systemic but not TB antigen-stimulated type 2 (IL-4 and IL-5) and regulatory (transforming growth factor beta [TGF-␤]) cytokines. Anthelmintic therapy resulted in significantly increased systemic levels of type 1 and/or type 17 cytokines and in significantly decreased systemic levels of type 2 and regulatory (IL-10 and TGF-␤) cytokines. In addition, anthelmintic therapy resulted in significantly increased TB antigen-stimulated levels of type 1 cytokines only. Our data therefore confirm that the modulation of systemic and TB antigen-stimulated cytokine responses in S. stercoralis-LTB coinfection is reversible (for the most part) by anthelmintic treatment.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anthelmintic Therapy Modifies the Systemic and Mycobacterial Antigen-Stimulated Cytokine Profile in Helminth-Latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis Coinfection

et al. 2017

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“…Intestinal helminths and those that occupy other mucosal sites, such as the lung, cohabit with a spectrum of microbial organisms 120, 121, 122. The entry of helminth parasites, such as H polygyrus , Trichinella spiralis , or Trichuris muris , into the intestinal tracts of mice significantly perturbs the commensal bacterial populations, with important immunologic and metabolic consequences 123, 124, 125, 126.…”

Section: Interactions Between Helminths and Microorganismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regulation of the host immune system by helminth parasites

Maizels

McSorley

2016

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

450

398

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Helminth parasite infections are associated with a battery of immunomodulatory mechanisms that affect all facets of the host immune response to ensure their persistence within the host. This broad-spectrum modulation of host immunity has intended and unintended consequences, both advantageous and disadvantageous. Thus the host can benefit from suppression of collateral damage during parasite infection and from reduced allergic, autoimmune, and inflammatory reactions. However, helminth infection can also be detrimental in reducing vaccine responses, increasing susceptibility to coinfection and potentially reducing tumor immunosurveillance. In this review we will summarize the panoply of immunomodulatory mechanisms used by helminths, their potential utility in human disease, and prospective areas of future research.

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“…Subsistence populations show a richer diversity of gut microbiota than market-integrated populations [163, 164] and helminth infections have been shown in one study to associate with increased microbiota diversity [165]. Whether these findings generalize to a broad range of populations remains to be seen, but it is likely that the joint composition of both microbiota and macrobiota may be important for maintaining host intestinal and immune homeostasis [166]. The robust finding from recent research among subsistence populations experiencing a greater diversity of pathogens shows minimal evidence for CAD and T2DM, and no evidence that higher levels of inflammation due to infection results in greater CAD and T2DM burden (see ‘case studies of cardio-metabolic disease in contemporary preindustrial human societies’ section).…”

Section: Living In a Poly-parasitic Worldmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes in evolutionary perspective: A critical role for helminths?

Gurven

Trumble

Stieglitz

et al. 2016

EMPH

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Heart disease and type 2 diabetes are commonly believed to be rare among contemporary subsistence-level human populations, and by extension prehistoric populations. Although some caveats remain, evidence shows these diseases to be unusual among well-studied hunter-gatherers and other subsistence populations with minimal access to healthcare. Here we expand on a relatively new proposal for why these and other populations may not show major signs of these diseases. Chronic infections, especially helminths, may offer protection against heart disease and diabetes through direct and indirect pathways. As part of a strategy to insure their own survival and reproduction, helminths exert multiple cardio-protective effects on their host through their effects on immune function and blood lipid metabolism. Helminths consume blood lipids and glucose, alter lipid metabolism, and modulate immune function towards Th-2 polarization—which combined can lower blood cholesterol, reduce obesity, increase insulin sensitivity, decrease atheroma progression, and reduce likelihood of atherosclerotic plaque rupture. Traditional cardiometabolic risk factors, coupled with the mismatch between our evolved immune systems and modern, hygienic environments may interact in complex ways. In this review, we survey existing studies in the non-human animal and human literature, highlight unresolved questions and suggest future directions to explore the role of helminths in the etiology of cardio-metabolic disease.

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Macrobiota — helminths as active participants and partners of the microbiota in host intestinal homeostasis

Cited by 68 publications

References 48 publications

Anthelmintic Therapy Modifies the Systemic and Mycobacterial Antigen-Stimulated Cytokine Profile in Helminth-Latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis Coinfection

Anthelmintic Therapy Modifies the Systemic and Mycobacterial Antigen-Stimulated Cytokine Profile in Helminth-Latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis Coinfection

Regulation of the host immune system by helminth parasites

Cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes in evolutionary perspective: A critical role for helminths?

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