Gastrointestinal nematode infection interferes with experimental allergic airway inflammation but not atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Some helminth infections are negatively associated with the prevalence of allergic disorders, arguing for a modulation of allergic reactions by the parasites, depending on the worm species, intensity and phase of infection and the type of disease. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of a chronic infection with the gastrointestinal nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus, in a murine model of allergic airway disease and of atopic dermatitis (AD), respectively. METHODS: Mice were infected with H. polygyrus and systemically sensitized with the model allergen ovalbumin. Subsequently, the animals were challenged with the allergen either via the airways for induction of airway disease, or via skin patches for induction of dermatitis. RESULTS: Mice concomitantly infected with H. polygyrus showed diminished eosinophil and lymphocyte recruitment into the lungs and decreased allergen-specific IgE levels when compared with sensitized and airway challenged controls. In addition, animals showed a trend towards reduced airway hyper-reactivity. In contrast, no significant differences in the severity of eczematous skin lesions were observed between infected and control animals in the AD model. Although H. polygyrus infection reduced CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell infiltration into the skin and production of allergen-specific IgE, mast cell recruitment was significantly increased in worm-infected mice in the dermatitis model. The worm infection was associated with significantly elevated numbers of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) in peribronchial lymph nodes in H. polygyrus-infected sensitized and airway challenged mice. In contrast, Treg cells were basically absent in eczematous skin and their number was not increased in skin-draining lymph nodes of mice with experimental dermatitis. CONCLUSION: Infection with the gastrointestinal nematode used in our study leads to significant inhibition of mucosa-associated but not cutaneous allergic reactions, pointing to a site specificity of the immunomodulation exerted by helminths. This finding might be an important aspect for future considerations of helminths for treatment of allergic diseases.

PPARgamma expression profile and its cytokine driven regulation in atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies point to the pathophysiological role of the peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) in the inflammatory immune response. We have showed that activation of PPARgamma by specific ligands attenuates the allergic immune response via monocytes and lymphocytes. The objective of this study was to analyse the PPARgamma expression and its regulation via inflammatory cytokines. METHODS: We examined the PPARgamma expression in the lesional and nonlesional skin of atopic patients by immunohistochemistry. The expression patterns of PPARgamma mRNA and its isoforms were investigated in peripheral mononuclear blood cells of atopic and nonatopic donors and in cytokine-stimulated populations by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. RESULTS: Our data show an increased PPARgamma expression in lesional skin from atopic dermatitis patients. The analysis of PPARgamma mRNA reveals a significantly up-regulated expression of PPARgamma1 but not of PPARgamma2 in monocytes and CD4(+) T-cells from atopic dermatitis patients. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Th-cytokines, like IL-4, IL-13 and IFNgamma, which regulate the biphasic atopic immune response, directly regulate the expression of PPARgamma1. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these data demonstrate that PPARgamma isoforms are differently expressed and regulated by the local cytokine-milieu. Whether the increased expression of the PPARgamma1 receptor may be beneficial or not for a PPARgamma ligand-based treatment of atopic dermatitis, is currently under investigation.