| First Author | Negrão-Corrêa D | Year | 2004 |
| Journal | Infect Immun | Volume | 72 |
| Issue | 2 | Pages | 1135-42 |
| PubMed ID | 14742561 | Mgi Jnum | J:87866 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3028404 | Doi | 10.1128/IAI.72.2.1135-1142.2004 |
| Citation | Negrao-Correa D, et al. (2004) Platelet-activating factor receptor deficiency delays elimination of adult worms but reduces fecundity in Strongyloides venezuelensis-infected mice. Infect Immun 72(2):1135-42 |
| abstractText | We describe the parasitological kinetics and histopathological and immunological alterations in platelet-activating factor receptor-deficient (PAFR(-/-)) and wild-type mice after a single Strongyloides venezuelensis infection (subcutaneous inoculation of 500 L3 larvae). There was no difference in the numbers of worms that reached and became established in the small intestines of PAFR(-/-) and wild-type mice. However, at 12 days after infection, significantly more worms were recovered from PAFR(-/-) mice. Although PAFR(-/-) infected mice showed a delay in elimination of adult worms, worms established in the small intestine of these mice produced a significantly lower number of eggs due to a reduction in worm fecundity. There were also significant reductions in the number of circulating and tissue eosinophils and tumor necrosis factor levels in the small intestines of PAFR(-/-) mice infected for 7 days compared to the number and level in wild-type mice. Histological analysis confirmed the reduced inflammatory process and revealed that the PAFR(-/-) mice had a smaller number of goblet cells. The concentrations of the type 2 cytokines interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, and IL-10 were lower in small intestine homogenates and in supernatants of antigen-stimulated lymphocytes from spleens or mesenteric lymph nodes of PAFR(-/-) mice than in the corresponding preparations from wild-type mice. Thus, in S. venezuelensis-infected PAFR(-/-) mice, decreased intestinal inflammation is associated with enhanced worm survival but decreased fecundity. We suggest that although a Th2-predominant inflammatory response decreases worm survival, the worm may use factors produced during this response to facilitate egg output and reproduction. PAFR-mediated responses appear to modulate these host-derived signals that are important for worm fecundity. |
