Fig. 7
From: Immunoendocrine network under conditions of diabetes-filariasis co-morbidity DMLF6
A model explaining the role played by immune mediators under conditions of DM-LF co-morbidity. During infection, the innate and adaptive arms of the immune response, coordinate to confer protection against filariasis. The activated eosinophils in turn secrete IL-4, which activates and polarizes the resident macrophages (a), to the M2 phenotype. These M2 macrophages secrete IL-8, which attracts the neutrophils (b). They also secrete IL-1β and IL-1Ra which modulates the activation of the neutrophils. The activated eosinophils and neutrophils secrete reactive oxygen intermediates and defensins, which aid in the killing of the parasite. M2 macrophages secrete VEGF (c), which mediates neolymphangiogenesis. All these immune markers were affected in filariasis infected individuals who are diabetic.
