Knowledge of the gut epithelium in modulating immune responses to cestode parasites is scant. Hymenolepis diminuta causes no damage to its rodent host and is expelled from mice. Hymenolepis diminuta (scolex+2cm strobila) was cultured with rat (IEC6), human (T84) or mouse (IEC4) epithelial cell lines: all promoted worm survival, but those cultured on IEC6 (rat is a permissive host) were the healthiest. In contrast, production of Th2 polarising cytokines, IL-17e, IL-33 and TSLP, was greatest in IEC4 cells, less in T84 epithelia and almost negligible in IEC6 cells. Thus, the enteric epithelium is a key determinant of the response to infection with H. diminuta and is predictive of host permissiveness.
Keywords: Cestode; IL-25; IL-33; In vitro culture; TSLP.
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