Larval Taenia crassiceps secretes a protein with characteristics of murine interferon-γ

• Published in: Parasitology research (1987) Vol. 88; no. 5; pp. 431 - 438
• Main Authors: SPOLSKI, R. J, THOMAS, P. G, SEE, E. J, MOONEY, K. A, KUHN, R. E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01-05-2002
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Line; Cysticercosis - immunology; Cysticercosis - parasitology; Epitopes; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Helminth Proteins - immunology; Helminth Proteins - metabolism; Host parasite relation; pathogenicity; Immune Sera - immunology; Interferon-gamma - immunology; Interferon-gamma - metabolism; Interleukin-10 - metabolism; Invertebrates; Larva - immunology; Lymphocyte Activation; Macrophages - immunology; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Nemathelminthia. Plathelmintha; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Peritoneal Cavity - cytology; Spleen - cytology; Spleen - immunology; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Taenia - growth & development; Taenia - immunology; Host parasite relation; Cysticercosis; Cellular immunity; Teniasis; Cestoda; Mimetism; Secretory protein; Immune response; Cytokine; Rodentia; Plathelmintha; Parasite; Immune regulation; Parasitosis; Helminthiasis; Cestode disease; Infection; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Larva; Mouse; Helmintha; Exocrine secretion; Taenia crassiceps; Invertebrata; Gamma interferon
• ISSN: 0932-0113; 1432-1955
• DOI: 10.1007/s00436-002-0590-y

Previous studies have shown that excretory/secretory products of larval Taenia crassiceps have immunomodulatory activities. We report here that one of these products, termed p66, possesses activities that mimic some characteristics of murine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). Purified p66 cross-reacts with anti-murine IFN-gamma on immunoblots and increases concanavalin-A-induced splenic T-cell proliferative responses of normal and chronically infected mice. It has also been shown that p66 induces enhanced IFN-gamma and interleukin-10 (IL-10) production in cells from infected or normal mice. Adherent and non-adherent peritoneal exudates cells were stimulated with p66 and showed that the adherent cells were induced to produce IL-10 and that the non-adherent cells were induced to produce IFN-gamma. p66 was shown as well to upregulate nitric oxide production in macrophages and two T-cell lines, IEL and YAC-1, were shown to be stimulated to produce IFN-gamma and IL-10, respectively, by p66. Although the significance of p66 in immunoregulation is not known, we show here that this molecule mimics characteristics of IFN-gamma.