Ruyssers, Nathalie E., De Winter, Benedicte Y., De Man, Joris G., Loukas, Alex, Herman, Arnold G., Pelckmans, Paul A., and Moreels, Tom G. (2008) Worms and the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease: are molecules the answer? Journal of Immunology Research, 2008. 567314. pp. 1-7.

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Abstract

The lack of exposure to helminth infections, as a result of improved living standards and medical conditions, may have contributed to the increased incidence of IBD in the developed world. Epidemiological, experimental, and clinical data sustain the idea that helminths could provide protection against IBD. Studies investigating the underlying mechanisms by which helminths might induce such protection have revealed the importance of regulatory pathways, for example, regulatory T-cells. Further investigation on how helminths influence both innate and adaptive immune reactions will shed more light on the complex pathways used by helminths to regulate the hosts immune system. Although therapy with living helminths appears to be effective in several immunological diseases, the disadvantages of a treatment based on living parasites are explicit. Therefore, the identification and characterization of helminth-derived immunomodulatory molecules that contribute to the protective effect could lead to new therapeutic approaches in IBD and other immune diseases.

Item ID:	36732
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	2314-7156
Additional Information:	© 2008 Nathalie E. Ruyssers et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Date Deposited:	10 Dec 2014 03:35
FoR Codes:	11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1108 Medical Microbiology > 110803 Medical Parasitology @ 100%
SEO Codes:	92 HEALTH > 9201 Clinical Health (Organs, Diseases and Abnormal Conditions) > 920109 Infectious Diseases @ 100%
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