The incidences of multiple sclerosis have risen worldwide, yet neither the trigger nor efficient treatment is known. Some research is dedicated to looking for treatment by parasites, mainly by helminths. However, little is known about the effect of helminths that infect the nervous system. Therefore, we chose the neurotropic avian schistosome Trichobilharzia regenti, which strongly promotes M2 polarization and tissue repair in the central nervous system, and we tested its effect on the course of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mice. Surprisingly, the symptoms of EAE tended to worsen after the infection with T. regenti. The infection did not stimulate tissue repair, as indicated by the similar level of demyelination. Eosinophils heavily infiltrated the infected tissue, and the microglia number increased as well. Furthermore, splenocytes from T. regenti-infected EAE mice produced more interferon (IFN)-γ than splenocytes from EAE mice after stimulation with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein. Our research indicates that the combination of increased eosinophil numbers and production of IFN-γ tends to worsen the EAE symptoms. Moreover, the data highlight the importance of considering the direct effect of the parasite on the tissue, as the migrating parasite may further tissue damage and make tissue repair even more difficult.

• Keywords
• EAE, IFN-γ, Trichobilharzia regenti, demyelination, eosinophilia, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, neurotropic parasite, neurotropic schistosome,
• MeSH
• Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental * immunology   pathology   MeSH
• Eosinophils immunology   MeSH
• Interferon-gamma * metabolism   MeSH
• Mice, Inbred C57BL * MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Multiple Sclerosis immunology   pathology   MeSH
• Schistosomatidae physiology   MeSH
• Spleen pathology   parasitology   immunology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Mice MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Interferon-gamma * MeSH