Genetic control of susceptibility toTaenia crassicepscysticercosis

Abstract

We previously reported that genes within the major histocompatibility complex influence the intensity of Taenia crassiceps murine cysticercosis. This genetic control, readily apparent in mice of BALB background, was further studied in H-2 congenic and recombinant B10 mice as well as in BALB/c substrains differing in expression of Qa-2 antigens. Similarly low parasite numbers were found in all B10-derived strains infected, regardless of H-2 haplotype, indicating that the effect of H-2 genes in controlling susceptibility is overridden in mice of B10 background. BALB/c substrains differed significantly in susceptibility. BALB/cAnN was highly susceptible, whereas BALB/cJ, in contrast, was highly resistant and BALB/cByJ showed intermediate susceptibility. Susceptibility or resistance in BALB/c substrains may be associated to differences known to distinguish them, such as serum testosterone levels and Qa-2 protein expression. In bidirectional F1 hybrids of C57BL/6J and BALB/cAnN resistance to cysticercosis was inherited as a dominant autosomal trait. In F1 hybrids of BALB/cJ with BALB/cAnN, BALB/cByJ and BALB.K resistance was also inherited as a dominant trait. However, in (BALB/cAnN x BALB/cByJ)F1 and (BALB/cAnN x BALB.K)F1 hybrids, dominant susceptibility to cysticercosis was observed.

The Resistance of BALB/cJ Mice toYersinia pestisMaps to the Major Histocompatibility Complex of Chromosome 17

“…The difference in resistance to Y. pestis that we have observed is likely due to the genetic divergence of the BALB/cJ substrain from the other two BALB/c lines since their separation over 70 years ago (23). In fact, phenotypic differences between BALB/c substrains similar to those observed in this study have been well documented for other diseases including Graves' hyperthyroidism (37), experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (39), and Taenia crassiceps cysticercosis (10).…”

“…Although this region is usually associated with antigen-presenting H-2 genes of adaptive immunity, it also contains many genes associated with innate immune defense, including complement components, certain TNF family members, and stress-related proteins (15). Resistance of mice to a variety of pathogens including Plasmodium berghei (14), T. crassiceps (10), Chlamydia pneumoniae (30), and Streptococcus pyogenes (13) has been mapped to the MHC region. Similar to what we have found for Y. pestis, an early innate immune defense appears to be responsible for the observed resistance to S. pyogenes.…”

Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Plays a Critical Role in Mediating Protection against the Helminth ParasiteTaenia crassiceps

“…Experimental murine cysticercosis caused by T. crassiceps has been a useful model for understanding and defining the biological factors affecting susceptibility and resistance to this disease. Thus, genetic, immunological, and hormonal factors have been related to resistance in this model (14,15,20,22,31,41). Likewise, some of these observations have been confirmed in the natural hosts for T. solium (30,33,34).…”

“…Previous studies have demonstrated that the absence of MIF prevents the development of protective immunity against intracellular para- sites such as Leishmania by inhibiting macrophage microbicidal activity rather than by preventing the development of a Th1-like response (38). In experimental cysticercosis, an extraintestinal helminthic infection, several immunological factors have been associated with susceptibility and resistance (14,43). For example, we have previously demonstrated that blocking IFN-␥ results in a higher susceptibility to the parasite (43).…”

High Prevalence of Calcified Silent Neurocysticercosis in a Rural Village of Mexico

“…In other human parasitic diseases, it has been demonstrated that gender [10], age [11] and genetic background [12] modulate host susceptibility, although, in most cases, the mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Clear evidence of the relevance of the nonclassic MHC antigen (Q9) and of hormonal factors [13][14][15] has been obtained in experimental murine cysticercosis caused by Taenia crassiceps. Few studies are available on host factors implicated in the susceptibility to T. solium infection.…”