Human helminth therapy to treat inflammatory disorders - where do we stand?

BMC Immunol. 2015 Mar 26:16:12. doi: 10.1186/s12865-015-0074-3.

Abstract

Parasitic helminths have evolved together with the mammalian immune system over many millennia and as such they have become remarkably efficient modulators in order to promote their own survival. Their ability to alter and/or suppress immune responses could be beneficial to the host by helping control excessive inflammatory responses and animal models and pre-clinical trials have all suggested a beneficial effect of helminth infections on inflammatory bowel conditions, MS, asthma and atopy. Thus, helminth therapy has been suggested as a possible treatment method for autoimmune and other inflammatory disorders in humans.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Helminth / therapeutic use*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Helminthiasis / immunology*
  • Helminths*
  • Humans
  • Hygiene Hypothesis
  • Hypersensitivity / therapy*
  • Immunosuppression Therapy
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / therapy*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / therapy*
  • Therapy with Helminths* / trends

Substances

  • Antigens, Helminth