Cystatin from Filarial Parasites Suppress the Clinical Symptoms and Pathology of Experimentally Induced Colitis in Mice by Inducing T-Regulatory Cells, B1-Cells, and Alternatively Activated Macrophages

• Main Authors: Nalini Bisht, Vishal Khatri, Nikhil Chauhan, Ramaswamy Kalyanasundaram
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-10-01
• Series: Biomedicines
• Subjects: <i>brugia malayi</i> cystatin; ulcerative colitis; helminth therapy; t-regulatory cells; b-cells; dss-induced colitis
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/7/4/85

Potential alternative therapeutic strategies for immune-mediated disorders are being increasingly recognized and are studied extensively. We previously reported the therapeutic potential of <i>Brugia malayi</i> derived recombinant cystatin (r<i>Bma</i>Cys) in attenuating clinical symptoms of experimental colitis. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the r<i>Bma</i>Cys-induced suppression of inflammation in the colon. Our results show that, the frequency of CD4⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁺ regulatory T-cells was elevated in the colon and mesenteric lymph nodes. Similarly, the peritoneal macrophages recovered from the r<i>Bma</i>Cys-treated colitis mice were alternatively activated and displayed reduced expression of TNF-&#945; and IL-6. Another finding was significant increases in IgM⁺B1a-cells in the peritoneal cavity of mice following r<i>Bma</i>Cys-treatment. These findings suggested that the regulatory cell network promoted by the r<i>Bma</i>Cys in the colon and associated lymphoid tissues is important for its anti-inflammatory activity in the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice.