Modulation by Anapsos (Polypodium leucotomos extract) of the antibody responses against the nematode parasiteTrichinella spiralis

Abstract

The immunomodulant effects of Anapsos, an extract of the naturally occurring fern Polypodium leucotomos was assessed in Balb/c mice immunized with a crude soluble extract (CSE) of Trichinella spiralis L1 larvae. Treatment from day 10 to 1 prior to immunization caused a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in total antibody levels (IgG + M) that was evident from week 2 onwards. Suppression of the IgG1 response was transient, as serum levels were significantly (p < 0.01) decreased in treated animals during weeks 2 and 3 post‐immunization, afterwards increasing to values similar to those in the control group. An opposite pattern was observed in the IgG2a and IgG 2b profiles where, following a brief increase in weeks 3 and 1, respectively, the values fell below those of the control and remained for the whole observation. Anapsos potentiates the IgG3 response against T. spiralis CSE. Deglycosylation of the CSE used in the ELISA assay significantly reduces the IgG3 recognition capacity in both control and treated mice. This treatment did not affect the time‐course of an intestinal infection by T. spiralis. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Cats From St. Kitts, West Indies

“…It has been postulated that IFN-␥ production is needed to achieve protective responses against both cercariae and schistosomulae (Hewitson et al, 2005). PAL, consisting of an extract from the plant Polypodium leucotomos, has been shown to down-regulate the Th2-like response induced by parasitic infections, such as Trichinella spiralis (Dea-Ayuela et al, 1999) and Trichomonas vaginalis (NogalRuiz et al, 2003). Similarly, its use in an antischistosome vaccine is justified because Th2-type dominant responses have been related to a lack of protection against these parasites (Hewitson et al, 2005).…”

Effect of Anapsos® in a murine model of experimental trichomoniasis

“…In vitro studies have shown that Anapsos® has potential neurotrophic and neuroimmunomodulating effects (Cacabelos & Takeda, 1995;Fernández-Novoa et al, 1997) which are accompanied by significant modulation of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-2, and TNF characteristic for monocytes and dendritic cells (Álvarez et al, 1992 Dea Ayuela et al, 1999). In these helminth models, this extract downregulates the Th2 responses generated against Anisakis simplex or Trichinella spiralis antigens, respectively.…”

The Immune Response to the Parasitic Nematode Trichinella and the Ways to Escape it. From Experimental Studies to Implications for Human Infection

“…They have been divided in a fast-responding group or group I (internal structures such as the cuticle inner layer for example) which can be detected two weeks after infection, and a slow-responding group or group II (larval surface and stichosome granules ) which is not detectable before four weeks after infection [104].…”

“…Many antigens were localized on the surface at different stages of the parasite by several techniques such as indirect immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation, electron microscopy with ferritin-labelled conjugates, for example [104,105]. They represent the main target of host antibodies mediating the ADCC and for this reason they were thoroughly studied during the eighties when in vitro models were the object of interest for many investigators [90].…”

“…E/S antigens are also produced by other stages of the parasite, for example adult worms possess a different stichosome from that of the muscle larvae since the cells are structurally different [106] and none of the protein is tyvelosilated [108]. On the contrary, the NBL are not yet able to excrete/secrete any antigen, an ability acquired after the stichosome formation which begins soon after muscle invasion [111] and completes its development after two weeks [104].…”