Effect of ES products from Anisakis (Nematoda: Anisakidae) on experimentally induced colitis in adult zebrafish

This study therefore dissects to what extent a series of immune‐related genes are modulated in zebrafish with experimentally induced colitis following exposure to excretory‐secretory (ES) products isolated from larval Anisakis, a widely distributed fish nematode. Adult zebrafish intrarectally exposed to the colitis‐inducing agent TNBS developed severe colitis leading to 80% severe morbidity, but if co‐injected (ip) with Anisakis ES products, the morbidity rate was 50% at the end of the experiment (48 hours post‐exposure). Gene expression studies of TNBS‐treated zebrafish showed clear upregulation of a range of genes encoding inflammatory cytokines and effector molecules and some induction of genes related to the adaptive response. A distinct innate‐driven immune response was seen in both TNBS and TNBS + ES groups, but expression values were significantly depressed for several important pro‐inflammatory genes in the TNBS + ES group, indicating protective mechanisms of Anisakis ES compounds on intestinal immunopathology in zebrafish.
Source: Parasite Immunology - Category: Parasitology Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research