International Journal of Molecular Sciences (Sep 2023)

Modulation of LPS-Induced Neurodegeneration by Intestinal Helminth Infection in Ageing Mice

  • Natalia Jermakow,
  • Weronika Skarżyńska,
  • Katarzyna Lewandowska,
  • Ewelina Kiernozek,
  • Katarzyna Goździk,
  • Anna Mietelska-Porowska,
  • Nadzieja Drela,
  • Urszula Wojda,
  • Maria Doligalska

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241813994
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 24, no. 18
p. 13994

Abstract

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Parasitic helminths induce a transient, short-term inflammation at the beginning of infection, but in persistent infection may suppress the systemic immune response by enhancing the activity of regulatory M2 macrophages. The aim of the study was to determine how nematode infection affects age-related neuroinflammation, especially macrophages in the nervous tissue. Here, intraperitoneal LPS-induced systemic inflammation resulting in brain neurodegeneration was enhanced by prolonged Heligmosomoides polygyrus infection in C57BL/6 mice. The changes in the brain coincided with the increase in M1 macrophages, reduced survivin level, enhanced APP and GFAP expression, chitin-like chains deposition in the brain and deterioration behaviour manifestations. These changes were also observed in transgenic C57BL/6 mice predisposed to develop neurodegeneration typical for Alzheimer’s disease in response to pathogenic stimuli. Interestingly, in mice infected with the nematode only, the greater M2 macrophage population resulted in better results in the forced swim test. Given the growing burden of neurodegenerative diseases, understanding such interactive associations can have significant implications for ageing health strategies and disease monitoring.

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