Microfilaria-dependent thoracic pathology associated with eosinophilic and fibrotic polyps in filaria-infected rodents

Parasites & Vectors

Colin Nixon¹  Leo M. Carlin²  John Le Quesne³  Estelle Remion⁴  Lisy Raveendran⁴  Nathaly Vallarino-Lhermitte⁴  Joy Alonso⁴  Coralie Martin⁴  Frédéric Fercoq⁵ 

[1] CRUK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, G61 1BD, Glasgow, UK;CRUK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, G61 1BD, Glasgow, UK;Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, G61 1GH, Glasgow, UK;Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK;Unité Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM UMR 7245), Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, CNRS, P52, 61 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France;Unité Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM UMR 7245), Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, CNRS, P52, 61 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France;CRUK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, G61 1BD, Glasgow, UK;

关键词: Filariasis;    Microfilaria;    Lung;    Polyps;    Vascularization;    Eosinophils;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13071-020-04428-0

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundPulmonary manifestations are regularly reported in both human and animal filariasis. In human filariasis, the main known lung manifestations are the tropical pulmonary eosinophilia syndrome. Its duration and severity are correlated with the presence of microfilariae. Litomosoides sigmodontis is a filarial parasite residing in the pleural cavity of rodents. This model is widely used to understand the immune mechanisms that are established during infection and for the screening of therapeutic molecules. Some pulmonary manifestations during the patent phase of infection with L. sigmodontis have been described in different rodent hosts more or less permissive to infection.MethodsHere, the permissive Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) was infected with L. sigmodontis. Prevalence and density of microfilariae and adult parasites were evaluated. Lungs were analyzed for pathological signatures using immunohistochemistry and 3D imaging techniques (two-photon and light sheet microscopy).ResultsMicrofilaremia in gerbils was correlated with parasite load, as amicrofilaremic individuals had fewer parasites in their pleural cavities. Fibrotic polypoid structures were observed on both pleurae of infected gerbils. Polyps were of variable size and developed from the visceral mesothelium over the entire pleura. The larger polyps were vascularized and strongly infiltrated by immune cells such as eosinophils, macrophages or lymphocytes. The formation of these structures was induced by the presence of adult filariae since small and rare polyps were observed before patency, but they were exacerbated by the presence of gravid females and microfilariae.ConclusionsAltogether, these data emphasize the role of host-specific factors in the pathogenesis of filarial infections.

【 授权许可】

CC BY