Experts believe a molecule in parasitic worms may help explain why worm infections can effectively treat a range of autoimmune diseases, including ms, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
The Monash University study, published in the FASEB Journal, successfully identified peptides from parasitic worms that suppress the body’s immune response. Researchers believe this could create a new drug containing the peptide to supply relief from the symptoms of autoimmune diseases.
Affecting as much as one in 20 Australians, autoimmune diseases occur when a person’s defense mechanisms has an abnormal response against its very own cells, tissues or perhaps entire organs, leading to inflammation and damage.
Lead researcher Professor Ray Norton from Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS) said experts around the world have yet to completely understand the causes of autoimmune diseases, that have risen significantly in areas of the planet.
“There tend to be more than eighty autoimmune diseases, ranging in severity from mild alive threatening in some cases. Although some affect mainly one area or organ, others can impact many areas of the body,” he explained.
“Many people believe there is a link between the increase in autoimmune diseases and an increased concentrate on cleanliness in western societies, since the defense mechanisms is no longer exposed to the broad range of infections that previous generations had to deal with.
“There could be some truth to this because worm infection is virtually uncommon in developed countries, yet the incidence of autoimmune diseases is high. However in developing countries the alternative is true,” Professor Norton said
The new line of research provides an option to helminthic therapy, where individuals deliberately infect themselves with parasitic worms, so that they can put their autoimmune disease into remission. It’s thought that the worms possess a calming effect on their host’s immune systems to guarantee their survival.
Rather than using worms, the study team looked for the active components responsible for immunomodulatory effects in parasitic worms. By developing a cDNA library from the anterior secretory glands of the parasitic hookworm Ancylostoma caninium, they identified a peptide called AcK1 that dampens the defense mechanisms by inhibiting a potassium channel (Kv1.3).
Researchers discovered that AcK1 closely resembles ShK, a peptide from the sea anemone, which has been proven to suppress autoimmune diseases and is currently in clinical trials for the treatment of ms.
Dr Sandeep Chhabra from Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, said the research will help in developing new drugs to treat autoimmune diseases.
“Our research shows that it is easy to identify individual molecules accountable for this beneficial affect,” he explained.
“The next step is to see if we are able to develop this into a pill that may dampen the immune system in people with an autoimmune disease. This is a whole lot cleaner than putting a worm within your body,” Dr Chhabra said.
