Immunoregulatory evaluation of Marshallagia marshalli antigen on dendritic cells for treatment of asthmatic patients

Today, dendritic cells therapy has been used to treat various diseases. Several studies have been conducted on the positive effects of different helminthes through dendritic cell (DC) therapy in controlling allergic diseases.

This study aimed at using of dendritic cells for polarization of immune response to protective one using Marshallagia marshalli antigen, which can result in production of regulatory Tcell; so that these cells could suppress Th2 immune response and then alleviate the symptom of diseases.

In this experimental study, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from 15 patients with asthma and 10 healthy controls and were cultured. PBMCs were then converted to tolerogenic DCs through exposure to GM-CSF, IL-4 and Marshallagia marshalli antigen. Then, tolerogenic DCs were exposed to autologous T cells for five days and finally, the level of secreted IL-10 was measured.  

The mean IL-10 level in the asthmatic and control groups was 143.2 ± 6.8, 135.4± 5.3    pq/ml, respectively. The results showed that IL-10 levels in both groups increased significantly (P≤0.001). Moreover, IL-10 levels in the asthmatic group were higher than the control group but this is not significant (P≥0.001).

These results indicate that M. marshalli antigen can create antigen-regulating dendritic cells  that increase the level of IL-10 and shift T lymphocytes to the regulatory type. It seems that this antigen parasite can be used in dendritic cell therapy to control allergic diseases.