Allergic Diseases and Helminth Immunomodulation
Summary
Allergic diseases encompass a spectrum of disorders—such as asthma, eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis—driven by exaggerated type 2 immune responses to otherwise innocuous environmental antigens. Central to these conditions is the production of allergen‐specific IgE, activation of mast cells and basophils, and recruitment of eosinophils under the control of Th2‐type cytokines. Helminth parasites, which have co-evolved with the human immune system, secrete a variety of immunomodulatory molecules that can both suppress and skew host immunity. In endemic regions, chronic helminth infections are associated with elevated total IgE levels, expansion of regulatory T cell populations and enhanced production of anti‐inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10 and TGF-β. Such modulation may protect against the development of allergic sensitisation by dampening immediate hypersensitivity reactions, yet certain helminth‐derived proteins can promote or cross-react with environmental allergens, exacerbating atopy. The complex interplay between helminth immunomodulation and allergic pathology offers insights into host–parasite co-adaptation, informs the hygiene hypothesis and suggests novel avenues for allergy prevention and therapy.
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Allergic Diseases and Helminth Immunomodulation publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in allergic diseases and helminth immunomodulation across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Atopy: Genetic predisposition to develop IgE-mediated allergic responses to common environmental antigens.
Th2 response: Arm of the adaptive immune system driven by interleukins IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13, promoting IgE production and eosinophil activation.
Regulatory T cell (Treg): Subset of CD4+ T cells that express FOXP3 and secrete IL-10 or TGF-β to suppress excessive immune reactions.
Immunomodulation: Process by which certain agents—such as helminth‐derived molecules—alter the intensity or quality of immune responses.
Cross-reactivity: Phenomenon whereby IgE or T cell receptors recognise similar epitopes on different proteins, potentially linking parasite molecules and environmental allergens.
References
- Single-cell molecular signature of pathogenic T helper subsets in type 2–associated disorders in humans. JCI Insight (2024).
- Frequent IgE recognition of Blomia tropicalis allergen molecules in asthmatic children and young adults in equatorial Africa. Frontiers in Immunology (2023).
- The Relationship of Parasite Allergens to Allergic Diseases. Current Allergy and Asthma Reports (2023).
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