Anne Cooke1, Paul Tonks2, Frances J. Jones3, Helen O’Shea2, Patricia Hutchings2, Anthony J. C. Fulford3, David W. Dunne3
1Division of Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, UK.
2Division of Immunology
3Division of Microbiology and Parasitology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB21QP, UK
Tóm tắt
The spontaneous development of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in non‐obese diabetic (NOD) mice has been shown to be mediated by a Th1 response against beta cell antigens. It is known that in murine models of Schistosoma mansoni infection, egg production is associated with a switch from a Th1 to Th2 response. This subsequent dominance of a Th2 response in S.mansoni infected mice has been shown to influence the response to other infectious agents or antigens. We therefore determined whether infection with S.mansoni could influence the spontaneous incidence of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in NOD mice. Infection with this helminth significantly reduced the spontaneous incidence of IDDM. IDDM was also prevented by injecting parasite eggs alone. Because until relatively recently humans might expect to succumb to a variety of infectious agents, the current freedom from infection might permit the expression of a genetic predisposition to autoimmune pathology and be responsible for the increased incidence of IDDM.
