How do intestinal parasites work against asthma?

Secretion of the hookworm has some very interesting features
Could a tropical intestinal parasite be the key to curing asthma? Researchers found in laboratory tests on human cells that a protein from so-called hookworms reduces the symptoms of allergies. With this protein, physicians might be able to develop pills for the treatment of asthma in the future.

The Australian scientists at the James Cook University in Cairns found in an investigation that a protein secretion of tropical hookworms could possibly be used to cure some allergies. The doctors now issued a press release on the subject. In addition, the results of the study were published in the journal "Science Translational Medicine".

The secretion of a tropical parasite contains a protein that could in the future enable the development of pills for asthma. (Image: zlikovec / fotolia.com)

Protein suppresses asthma in mice
The protein found is able to suppress asthma in mice, the scientists explain. Tests of human cells from asthma sufferers suggest that the hookworm protein may also be a promising candidate for the treatment of people with allergies.

Hackworm infection helps people with celiac disease
The new study builds on previous research on the potential treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). These have already classified an experimental hookworm infection as an anti-inflammatory treatment for people with celiac disease, explain the experts. After our first success with IBD, asthma was our next logical goal. Severine Navarro from James Cook University. Although IBD and asthma are very different, there is still something in common. This is the defect of the regulation of the immune system, which leads to inflammatory processes.

Treatment targets inflammation in autoimmune diseases and allergies
In order for the parasitic worms in the human gut to survive and remain undetected, the hookworms regulate the immune response of their human host. We are now aiming to control the inappropriate inflammation that is characteristic of autoimmune diseases and allergies. Navarro.

Protein suppresses inflammatory reactions
The physicians tested a recombinant form of the protein on mice and human cells. When mice were treated with the worm protein, they showed a comprehensive suppression of inflammatory reactions after exposure to allergens, say the Australian specialists.

T cells become anti-inflammatory through protein
Our previous work on inflammatory bowel disease has shown that hookworm proteins convert so-called T cells from inflammatory to anti-inflammatory. Navarro. The good news is that this not only protects the gut but also other organs. These include the respiratory tract, where asthma develops, adds the physician.

AIP-2 can help many people with allergies
The protein AIP-2 has already been tested on human cells. AIP-2 could be used in the future as a potential treatment for allergies. Such allergies affect nearly one billion people worldwide. In Australia alone, these allergies cost more than $ 9 billion a year, say the authors.

Physicians isolate AIP-2 from the worm's secretion
The new study also represents an important step in the exploitation of the therapeutic potential of hookworm proteins, said Professor Loukas of James Cook University. In our first investigations of IBD, we infected some participants with actual hookworms, the scientists explain. Since then, we have found that the protective properties of hookworms reside in their oral secretions. Thus, the physicians were able to isolate the most abundant protein AIP-2 in the mixture of the secretion.

Will soon be developed pills for asthma and autoimmune diseases?
In the asthma study, a recombinant form of AIP-2 was used, the scientists report, "This means that we can now produce the protein in large quantities," researchers explain. The mice were then treated intranasally and by injection. This exciting development supports the hope for the successful development of appropriate medicines. This is true not only for asthma, but also for other inflammatory diseases and autoimmune diseases, so the Faizt the researchers. (As)