Amelioration of ovalbumin-induced lung inflammation in a mouse model by Trichinella spiralis novel cystatin.

Background and Aims: Asthma, a chronic disease affecting humans and animals, has recently become increasingly prevalent and steadily widespread. The alternative treatment of asthma using helminth infections or helminth-derived immunomodulatory molecules (IMs) has been evaluated and demonstrated significant amelioration of disease severity index in vitro and in vivo. Trichinella spiralis, a parasitic nematode and its IMs, elicits a potential to relieve asthma and other immune-related disorders. In this study, we investigated the immunomodulatory function of recombinant T. spiralis novel cystatin (rTsCstN) in ameliorating acute inflammatory asthma disorders in a murine model. Materials and Methods: Female BALB/c mice were sensitized using intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin (OVA)/alum and subsequently challenged with intranasal administration of OVA alone or OVA + rTsCstN for 3 consecutive days, producing OVA-induced allergic asthma models. To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of rTsCstN, the inflammatory cells and cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and OVA-specific immunoglobulin E levels in serum were assessed. Histological alterations in the lung tissues were determined by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and eventually scored for the extent of inflammatory cell infiltration. Results: The asthmatic mouse models challenged with OVA + rTsCstN demonstrated a significant reduction of eosinophils (p < 0.01), macrophages (p < 0.05), and cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (p < 0.05) and interferon (IFN)-γ (p < 0.05) in BALF when compared with the mice challenged with OVA alone. However, the levels of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 remained unchanged. Histological examination revealed that mice administered OVA + rTsCstN were less likely to have inflammatory cell infiltration in their perivascular and peribronchial lung tissues than those administered OVA alone. Conclusion: Recombinant T. spiralis novel cystatin demonstrated immunomodulatory effects to reduce severe pathogenic alterations in asthma mouse models, encouraging a viable alternative treatment for asthma and other immunoregulatory disorders in humans and animals in the future.

Maoberry (Antidesma bunius) Improves Glucose Metabolism, Triglyceride Levels, and Splenic Lesions in High-Fat Diet-Induced Hypercholesterolemic Rats.

Excessive consumption of a high-fat diet (HFD) is associated with hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Dark purple maoberry (Antidesma bunius) fruit is a very good source of antioxidants. We investigated the effects of maoberry on immune function, lipid profiles, and oxidative stress in HFD-induced hypercholesterolemia. Seventy-two male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into the normal group fed with standard diet (ND); HFD groups (HF); and low, medium, and high dose of maoberry extract groups and a simvastatin group (HF-L, HF-M, HF-H, and HF-S, respectively). Maoberry groups were given maoberry extract at concentrations of 0.38, 0.76, and 1.52 g/kg per day. At the same time, HF-S groups were administered simvastatin 10 mg/kg per day. After 12 weeks of maoberry treatment, significant reductions in body weight and triglyceride levels were observed in HF-L, HF-M, and HF-H groups in comparison with HF groups (P < .05). Obvious negative changes in spleen histology were found in HF groups, but not in maoberry-treated groups. Modest, but not significant, improvements were observed in other lipid profiles, immune cells in peripheral blood, oxidative stress, and antioxidant capacity after maoberry supplementation. In summary, these findings suggest that maoberry was helpful in reducing atherogenic risk factors such as lipid profiles, especially triglyceride, inflammation, oxidative stress related to CVD, and lesions in spleen histopathology.

Fitness Loss under Amino Acid Starvation in Artemisinin-Resistant Plasmodium falciparum Isolates from Cambodia.

Artemisinin is the most rapidly effective drug for Plasmodium falciparum malaria treatment currently in clinical use. Emerging artemisinin-resistant parasites pose a great global health risk. At present, the level of artemisinin resistance is still relatively low with evidence pointing towards a trade-off between artemisinin resistance and fitness loss. Here we show that artemisinin-resistant P. falciparum isolates from Cambodia manifested fitness loss, showing fewer progenies during the intra-erythrocytic developmental cycle. The loss in fitness was exacerbated under the condition of low exogenous amino acid supply. The resistant parasites failed to undergo maturation, whereas their drug-sensitive counterparts were able to complete the erythrocytic cycle under conditions of amino acid deprivation. The artemisinin-resistant phenotype was not stable, and loss of the phenotype was associated with changes in the expression of a putative target, Exp1, a membrane glutathione transferase. Analysis of SNPs in haemoglobin processing genes revealed associations with parasite clearance times, suggesting changes in haemoglobin catabolism may contribute to artemisinin resistance. These findings on fitness and protein homeostasis could provide clues on how to contain emerging artemisinin-resistant parasites.