The filarial parasite Onchocerca volvulus generates the lipid mediator prostaglandin E2

Brattig, Norbert W.; Schwohl, Arline; Rickert, Rainer; Büttner, Dietrich W.

doi:10.1016/j.micinf.2005.10.014

Cited by 24 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Moreover, cats experimentally infected with D. immitis showed the highest serum PGE2 levels at 60 d.p.i., followed by a dramatic decrease, associating high PGE2 levels with parasite survival during the critical migration phase of the parasite (295). PGE2 has also been detected during different developmental stages of filariae in humans and in monocytes from hyporeactive individuals with onchocerciasis (62,63,242), with its detection being related in all of those cases to the containment of inflammation.…”

Section: Parasite Survival Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human and Animal Dirofilariasis: the Emergence of a Zoonotic Mosaic

et al. 2012

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SUMMARY Dirofilariasis represents a zoonotic mosaic, which includes two main filarial species ( Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens ) that have adapted to canine, feline, and human hosts with distinct biological and clinical implications. At the same time, both D. immitis and D. repens are themselves hosts to symbiotic bacteria of the genus Wolbachia , the study of which has resulted in a profound shift in the understanding of filarial biology, the mechanisms of the pathologies that they produce in their hosts, and issues related to dirofilariasis treatment. Moreover, because dirofilariasis is a vector-borne transmitted disease, their distribution and infection rates have undergone significant modifications influenced by global climate change. Despite advances in our knowledge of D. immitis and D. repens and the pathologies that they inflict on different hosts, there are still many unknown aspects of dirofilariasis. This review is focused on human and animal dirofilariasis, including the basic morphology, biology, protein composition, and metabolism of Dirofilaria species; the climate and human behavioral factors that influence distribution dynamics; the disease pathology; the host-parasite relationship; the mechanisms involved in parasite survival; the immune response and pathogenesis; and the clinical management of human and animal infections.

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Section: Parasite Survival Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human and Animal Dirofilariasis: the Emergence of a Zoonotic Mosaic

et al. 2012

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“…Notably, TGF-β1/LAP was also expressed in the absence of Wolbachia after doxycycline treatment similarly to filarial prostaglandin E 2 (Brattig et al 2006). If secreted and liberated, onchocercal TGF-β possibly has an immunosuppressive effect on host cells as discussed for Brugia (Gomez-Escobar et al 2000;Maizels et al 2004).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The nematode parasite Onchocerca volvulus generates the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)

et al. 2009

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Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a highly conserved cytokine that has a well-known regulatory role in immunity, but also in organ development of most animal species including helminths. Homologous tgf-b genes and mRNA have been detected in the filaria Brugia malayi. The in situ protein expression is unknown for filariae. Therefore, we examined several filariae for the expression and localization of latent (stable) TGF-beta in adult and larval stages. A specific goat anti-human latency associated protein (LAP, TGF-beta 1) antibody, purified by affinity chromatography, was used for light and electron microscopic immunohistochemistry. Adult Onchocerca volvulus, Onchocerca gibsoni, Onchocerca ochengi, Onchocerca armillata, Onchocerca fasciata, Onchocerca flexuosa, Wuchereria bancrofti, Dirofilaria sp., B. malayi, and infective larvae of W. bancrofti reacted with the antibody. Labeling of worm tissues varied between negative and all degrees of positive reactions. Latent TGF-beta was strongly expressed adjacent to the cell membranes of the hypodermis, epithelia, and muscles and adjacent to many nuclei in all organs. TGF-beta was well expressed in worms without Wolbachia endobacteria eliminated by doxycycline treatment. Pleomorphic neoplasms in O. volvulus were also labeled. We conclude that latent TGF-beta protein is expressed by filariae independently of Wolbachia, possibly regulating worm tissue homeostasis.

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“…The positive serology for D. immitis antigens observed in these individuals reflects an active or recent infection, but only some infected individuals develop pulmonary nodules (14). Prostaglandin E 2 has been detected in the microfilariae of Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi (12) and in Onchocerca volvulus adult worms (4). Its presence is related to the survival of parasites in immunocompetent hosts, due to the capacity of this eicosanoid to stimulate the Th2-type anti-inflammatory response.…”

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“…In addition, Wolbachia bacteria play an important role in the immunopathogenesis of both human filarial diseases (3,19) and animal dirofilariosis (9). Eicosanoids are lipid mediators that regulate different physiological processes and modulate inflammatory and immunological responses in mammals (4). The effects of some of these eicosanoids antagonize the effects of others.…”

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“…Specifically, the thromboxanes (Txs) constrict blood vessels, suppress cyclic AMP, and promote platelet aggregation, while leukotrienes (LTs) are related to vascular permeability, chemotaxis, and polymorphonuclear leukocyte activation (17). Some of these lipid mediators have been observed in lymphatic filariae (10,11,13) and Onchocerca volvulus (4). Clinical studies have demonstrated high concentrations of TxB2 in the plasma of patients with septic and endotoxic shock (1) and in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (6).…”

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High Levels of Serum Thromboxane B2 Are Generated during Human Pulmonary Dirofilariosis

Morchón

López-Belmonte

Rodríguez-Barbero

et al. 2006

Clin Vaccine Immunol

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The canine parasite Dirofilaria immitis can infect humans. Patients with pulmonary dirofilariosis develop significantly higher thromboxane B2 levels than healthy individuals living in areas where dirofilariosis is endemic and in areas where dirofilariosis is not endemic. The possible role of Wolbachia bacteria in the appearance of this eicosanoid is discussed.Heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis in dogs and cats is distributed in temperate, subtropical, and tropical areas worldwide (7). The infection is transmitted by several mosquito species, most of which are able to feed on both animal reservoirs and humans. Thus, in areas of endemicity, people are at risk of infection. Human dirofilariosis is radiologically characterized by a solitary pulmonary calcified or noncalcified nodule (5, 15). These nodules appear when a migrating immature worm is trapped in a branch of the pulmonary artery and dies, causing coagulation necrosis with fibrosis and infiltration of inflammatory cells (8,16). Wolbachia symbiont bacteria are a stable and abundant component of the bodies of many filarial species (2). In human D. immitis infections, high levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against the Wolbachia surface protein (WSP) have consistently been detected in patients with pulmonary dirofilariosis, while in healthy donors living in areas of endemicity, the levels of IgG anti-WSP are much lower (18). In addition, Wolbachia bacteria play an important role in the immunopathogenesis of both human filarial diseases (3, 19) and animal dirofilariosis (9). Eicosanoids are lipid mediators that regulate different physiological processes and modulate inflammatory and immunological responses in mammals (4). The effects of some of these eicosanoids antagonize the effects of others. Specifically, the thromboxanes (Txs) constrict blood vessels, suppress cyclic AMP, and promote platelet aggregation, while leukotrienes (LTs) are related to vascular permeability, chemotaxis, and polymorphonuclear leukocyte activation (17). Some of these lipid mediators have been observed in lymphatic filariae (10,11,13) and Onchocerca volvulus (4). Clinical studies have demonstrated high concentrations of TxB2 in the plasma of patients with septic and endotoxic shock (1) and in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (6).The aim of this study was to investigate the levels of eicosanoids in the sera of patients with pulmonary dirofilariosis, a disease characterized by the inflammatory obstruction of pulmonary arteries and a disease in which the Wolbachia symbiont bacteria stimulate the immune systems of infected individuals.Eighty human serum samples were divided into three groups. Group 1 (G1; n ϭ 10) comprised serum samples from patients diagnosed with pulmonary dirofilariosis caused by D. immitis (these samples were kindly provided by Patrick Lammie from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga.). These samples have high levels of specific IgG against WSP, as demonstrated previously (18). Group 2 (G2; n ϭ 40) compr...

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The filarial parasite Onchocerca volvulus generates the lipid mediator prostaglandin E2

Cited by 24 publications

References 37 publications

Human and Animal Dirofilariasis: the Emergence of a Zoonotic Mosaic

Human and Animal Dirofilariasis: the Emergence of a Zoonotic Mosaic

The nematode parasite Onchocerca volvulus generates the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)

High Levels of Serum Thromboxane B2 Are Generated during Human Pulmonary Dirofilariosis

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