Smyth DJ, White MPJ, Johnston CJC, Donachie AM, Campillo Poveda M, McSorley HJ, Maizels RM. Protection from T cell-dependent colitis by the helminth-derived immunomodulatory mimic of transforming growth factor-β,
Hp-TGM.
Discov Immunol 2023;
2:kyad001. [PMID:
36855464 PMCID:
PMC9958376 DOI:
10.1093/discim/kyad001]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
In animal models of inflammatory colitis, pathology can be ameliorated by several intestinal helminth parasites, including the mouse nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus. To identify parasite products that may exert anti-inflammatory effects in vivo, we tested H. polygyrus excretory-secretory (HES) products, as well as a recombinantly expressed parasite protein, transforming growth factor mimic (TGM), that functionally mimics the mammalian immunomodulatory cytokine TGF-β. HES and TGM showed a degree of protection in dextran sodium sulphate-induced colitis, with a reduction in inflammatory cytokines, but did not fully block the development of pathology. HES also showed little benefit in a similar acute trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid-induced model. However, in a T cell transfer-mediated model with recombination activation gene (RAG)-deficient mice, HES-reduced disease scores if administered throughout the first 2 or 4 weeks following transfer but was less effective if treatment was delayed until 14 days after T cell transfer. Recombinant TGM similarly dampened colitis in RAG-deficient recipients of effector T cells, and was effective even if introduced only once symptoms had begun to be manifest. These results are a promising indication that TGM may replicate, and even surpass, the modulatory properties of native parasite HES.
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