SXP-RAL Family Filarial Protein, rWbL2, Prevents Development of DSS-Induced Acute Ulcerative Colitis

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

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.

A Helminth-Derived Chitinase Structurally Similar to Mammalian Chitinase Displays Immunomodulatory Properties in Inflammatory Lung Disease

Immunomodulation of airway hyperreactivity by excretory-secretory (ES) products of the first larval stage (L1) of the gastrointestinal nematode Trichuris suis is reported by us and others. Here, we aimed to identify the proteins accounting for the modulatory effects of the T. suis L1 ES proteins and studied six selected T. suis L1 proteins for their immunomodulatory efficacy in a murine OVA-induced allergic airway disease model. In particular, an enzymatically active T. suis chitinase mediated amelioration of clinical signs of airway hyperreactivity, primarily associated with suppression of eosinophil recruitment into the lung, the associated chemokines, and increased numbers of RELMα⁺ interstitial lung macrophages. While there is no indication of T. suis chitinase directly interfering with dendritic cell activation or antigen presentation to CD4 T cells, treatment of allergic mice with the worm chitinase influenced the hosts' own chitinase activity in the inflamed lung. The three-dimensional structure of the T. suis chitinase as determined by high-resolution X-ray crystallography revealed high similarities to mouse acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase) but a unique ability of T. suis chitinase to form dimers. Our data indicate that the structural similarities between the parasite and host chitinase contribute to the disease-ameliorating effect of the helminth-derived chitinase on allergic lung inflammation.

Immunomodulatory potential of recombinant filarial protein, rWbL2, and its therapeutic implication in experimental ulcerative colitis in mouse

OBJECTIVE

Immunomodulation by helminth proteins has potential therapeutic implications in inflammatory bowel disease. In the present study, we have explored the therapeutic effect of a RAL family protein of filarial parasite Wuchereria bancrofti i.e., rWbL2 protein against DSS induced colitis in a mouse model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Anti-inflammatory activity of rWbL2 on mice peritoneal exudate cells was analyzed under in vitro condition. The colitis mice were treated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with rWbL2 in increasing doses (10 µg, 25 µg, and 50 µg) on days 4, 5, and 6. Disease severity was assessed by disease activity index (DAI), macroscopic and histopathological scores, and enzyme myeloperoxidase activity (MPO) in the colon. The response of the cultured splenocytes from treated mice to Con-A stimulation, in terms of ELISA-based assessment of the protein followed by the assessment of mRNA expression of cytokines, was measured by real-time PCR analysis.

RESULT

rWbL2 protein showed anti-inflammatory activity in vitro. Treatment with rWbL2 (at 25 µg/dose) effectively attenuated disease severity by reducing weight loss, DAI, mucosal edema, colon damage, and MPO activity. This therapeutic effect was found to be associated with increased release of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and decreased release of pro-inflammatory cytokine IFN-γ and TNF-α by the splenocytes of treated mice followed by stimulation with Con-A.

CONCLUSIONS

These results provide evidence of the strong immunomodulatory potential of rWbL2 protein implicating its therapeutic application against ulcerative colitis.