The Immunomodulatory Parasitic Worm Product ES-62 Reduces Lupus-associated Accelerated Atherosclerosis in a Mouse Model

Overview

Journal Int J Parasitol

Specialty Parasitology

Date 2015 Feb 11

PMID 25666929

Citations 25

Authors

Tamar R Aprahamian

Xuemei Zhong

Shahzada Amir

Christoph J Binder

Lo-Ku Chiang

Lamyaa Al-Riyami

Raffi Gharakhanian

Margaret M Harnett

William Harnett

Ian R Rifkin

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

ES-62 is an anti-inflammatory phosphorylcholine-containing glycoprotein secreted by the filarial nematode Acanthocheilonema viteae. Accelerated atherosclerosis frequently occurs in systemic lupus erythematosus, resulting in substantial cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We examined the effects of ES-62 in the gld.apoE(-/-) mouse model of this condition. Treatment with ES-62 did not substantially modulate renal pathology but caused decreased anti-nuclear autoantibody levels. Moreover, a striking 60% reduction in aortic atherosclerotic lesions was observed, with an associated decrease in macrophages and fibrosis. We believe that these latter findings constitute the first example of a defined parasitic worm product with therapeutic potential in atherosclerosis: ES-62-based drugs may represent a novel approach to control accelerated atherosclerosis in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Citing Articles

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Reduction in creatine metabolites in macrophages exposed to small molecule analogues of the anti-inflammatory parasitic worm product ES-62.

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