Immunomodulatory properties of helminth-produced molecules and their effect during autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases

Parasitic helminths produce excretion/secretion products (ESP) that affect the host's immune system to prevent damage or exclusion of the parasite. In recent decades, individual ESP molecules have been the focus of research for the treatment of autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases due to their immunomodulatory potential. Diseases that have been investigated in this context include ulcerative colitis, multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and allergic asthma. Among the pleiad of helminths and their immunomodulatory molecules, it is worth mentioning Acanthocheilonema viteae (Av17), Ancylostoma caninum (NIF), Ascaris lumbricoides (Al-CPI), Brugia malayi (BMCys), Clonorchis sinensis (CsStefin-1), Fasciola hepatica (FhHDM-1), Heligmosomoides polygyrus (HpTGM), Schistosoma japonicum (SjCystatin) and Schistosoma mansoni (Omega-1). The main effects of these molecules on the host immune system include affecting the function of dendritic cells and macrophages, influencing cytokine production and reducing the Th1 immune response, which usually leads to alleviation of disease symptoms. Based on the current state of knowledge, it is not yet certain how the molecules will work in treating patients and whether they will have the same effect when administered in the long term. Despite..