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Pathogen-Derived Immunomodulatory Molecules pp 157–166Cite as

Helminthic Therapy: Using Worms to Treat Immune-Mediated Disease

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Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 666))

Abstract

There is an epidemic of immune-mediated disease in highly-developed industrialized countries. Such diseases, like inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis and asthma increase in prevalence as populations adopt modern hygienic practices. These practices prevent exposure to parasitic worms (helminths). Epidemiologic studies suggest that people who carry helminths have less immune-mediated disease. Mice colonized with helminths are protected from disease in models of colitis, encephalitis, Type 1 diabetes and asthma. Clinical trials show that exposure to helminths reduce disease activity in patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. This chapter reviews some of the work showing that colonization with helminths alters immune responses, against dysregulated inflammation. These helminth-host immune interactions have potentially important implications for the treatment of immune-mediated diseases.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA

    David E. Elliott

  2. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department of Internal Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Joel V. Weinstock

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  1. David E. Elliott
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  2. Joel V. Weinstock
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to David E. Elliott .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Inflammation and Immunity Group, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland

    Padraic G. Fallon BSc, MSc, PhD

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© 2009 Landes Bioscience and Springer Science+Business Media

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Elliott, D.E., Weinstock, J.V. (2009). Helminthic Therapy: Using Worms to Treat Immune-Mediated Disease. In: Fallon, P.G. (eds) Pathogen-Derived Immunomodulatory Molecules. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 666. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1601-3_12

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