Immunomodulatory effects of excretory/secretory compounds from Contracaecum osculatum larvae in a zebrafish inflammation model

PLoS One. 2017 Jul 24;12(7):e0181277. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181277. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Excretory/secretory (ES) compounds isolated from third-stage larvae of the anisakid nematode Contracaecum osculatum parasitizing liver of Baltic cod were investigated for effects on immune gene expression in a zebrafish LPS-induced inflammation model. ES products containing a series of proteins, of which some had enzymatic activity, were injected solely or with LPS. ES proteins alone induced up-regulation of a number of immune-related genes, but generally to a lower degree compared to LPS. When co-injected with LPS, the worm products exacerbated merely expression of five genes affecting Th1, Th2, Th17 and innate responses compared to the LPS-injected group. However, the level of overexpression decreased in an inverse dose-dependent manner. The immune regulating action of C. osculatum ES products is interpreted as an important evolutionary ability of larval parasites in the transport host which makes it less susceptible to host immune responses whereby the probability of reaching the final host is increased.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Ascaridida Infections / genetics
  • Ascaridida Infections / immunology
  • Ascaridida Infections / parasitology
  • Ascaridida Infections / veterinary*
  • Ascaridoidea / immunology*
  • Fish Diseases / genetics
  • Fish Diseases / immunology
  • Fish Diseases / parasitology*
  • Gadus morhua / genetics
  • Gadus morhua / immunology
  • Gadus morhua / parasitology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Immunity
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Inflammation / parasitology
  • Inflammation / veterinary*
  • Larva / immunology
  • Zebrafish / genetics
  • Zebrafish / immunology
  • Zebrafish / parasitology*

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme through the grant agreement No. 634429 (ParaFishControl) received by KB. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.