New Insights into the Modulation of Immune Response by Fasciola hepatica Excretory-Secretory Productsa

LAURA CERVI; MARIANELA C. SERRADELL; LORENA GUASCONI; DIANA T. MASIH

Current Immunology Reviews

Bentham Science Publishers Ltd

Lugar: Sharjah; Año: 2009 vol. 5 p. 277 - 277

1573-3955

asciola hepatica is a trematode that affects human and domestic ruminant health, causing significant economic losses in cattle estimated at US$2000 millon per year. Juvenile parasites migrating through the host tissues, as well as adults settle in the biliary ducts, are in contact with different cells from the immune system. Despite those interactions, the persistence of the parasite in the host for many years provides evidence of its ability to prevent or down-modulate the inflammatory response in the infection site. Different strategies have been developed by the parasite to prevent potential damage being induced by the immune response, thus allowing some parasites to reach the adult stage in a safe place such as the biliary ducts. In this review we discuss how excretory-secretory products (ESP) from F. hepatica can affect the functionality of pivotal immune cells, such as eosinophils and macrophages by inducing selective apoptosis pathways and alternative activation o