Journal Article

Helminth-derived proteins as immune system regulators: a systematic review of their promise in alleviating colitis

Alghanmi, Maimonah, Minshawi, Faisal, Azhari, Ala A., Naser, Abdallah Y, Altorki, Tarfa A., Zawawi, Ayat, Alsaady, Isra, Alsulami, Soa’ad M., Hashem, Anwar M, Alhabbab, Rowa, Alwafi, Hassan

2024

Overview

Helminth-derived proteins have immunomodulatory properties, influencing the host’s immune response as an adaptive strategy for helminth survival. Helminth-derived proteins modulate the immune response by inducing anti-inflammatory cytokines, promoting regulatory T-cell development, and ultimately favouring a Th2-biased immune response. This systematic review focused on helminth-derived proteins and explored their impact on reducing inflammatory responses in mouse models of colitis. A systematic search across Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library identified fourteen relevant studies. These studies reported immunomodulatory changes, including increased production of anti-inflammatory cells and cytokines. In mouse models of colitis treated with on helminth-derived proteins, significant improvements in pathological parameters such as body weight, colon length, and microscopic inflammatory scores were observed compared to control groups. Moreover, helminth-derived proteins can enhance the function of Tregs and alleviate the severity of inflammatory conditions. The findings underscore the pivotal role of helminth-derived proteins in immunomodulation, specifically in the axis of cytokine secretion and immune cell polarization. The findings offer new opportunities for treating chronic inflammatory conditions such Crohn’s disease.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Allergology / Analysis / Animal models / Animals / Anti-inflammatory drugs / Bacterial infections / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Biomedicine / Body mass index / Body weight / Care and treatment / Clinical outcomes / Clinical trials / Colitis / Colitis - therapy / Complications and side effects / Crohn's disease / Cytokines / Cytokines - metabolism / Cytokines and Growth Factors / Diagnosis / Disease Models, Animal / Genetic engineering / Health aspects / Helminth Proteins - therapeutic use / Helminthiasis / Helminths / Immune response / Immune system / Immune System - metabolism / Immunologic Factors / Immunology / Immunomodulation / Immunoregulation / Infections / Inflammation / Inflammatory bowel disease / Inflammatory bowel diseases / Laboratory animals / Lymphocytes T / Mice / Multiple sclerosis / Nematodes / Parasites / Proteins / Systematic review / T cells / The digestive system and autoimmunity / Tropical diseases / Tumor necrosis factor-TNF / Ulcerative colitis / Vaccine