Therapeutic effects of Hirudo medicinalis extract antigens on modulation of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3 T cell activity in murine eimeriosis
Research article published in Veterinary parasitology (2022)
Abstract
Eimeriosis is a common parasitic disease in the chicken industry. The aim of this study was to assess the protective role of Hirudo extract antigens (HEA) against murine eimeriosis induced by Eimeria papillate. The oocyst output, developmental stages, goblet cells and oxidative stress, were investigated. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect anti-apoptotic Bcl2 marker and the number of both CD4+ and CD25+ cells in jejunal tissue, while ELISA was used to quantify TGF-β, IL-10 and IL-22 in jejunal tissue homogenate. Real-time PCR was also used to detect mRNA expression of mucin 2 (MUC2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), IL-1β, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, and FoxP3. The most effective dose (5 µg/mice) reduced the oocyst output by 82.95 ± 1.02% (P ˂ 0.001). Similarly, the same dose reduced the jejunal developmental stages by 66.67 ± 0.49% (P ˂ 0.001). Furthermore, HEA therapy increased the number of jejunal goblet cells by 12.8 ± 1 (P ˂ 0.001) and the expression of MUC2 by 0.83 ± 0.06 (P ˂ 0.001). In contrast, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, iNOS, and IL-1β expression as well as apoptosis were reduced. The number of CD4+ and CD25+ in the jejunal tissue was increased (14.6 ± 1.2 (P ˂ 0.001), 6.84 ± 1 (P ˂ 0.01), respectively) after HEA therapy. The molecular analysis showed an increased expression of intestinal Foxp3 (3.2 ± 0.13 (P ˂ 0.001), while IL-22 was reduced (124 ± 10 (P ˂ 0.001)) versus an increase in TGF-β (250 ± 17 (P ˂ 0.01)) and IL-10 (236 ± 16 (P ˂ 0.001)) after HEA treatment in comparison to the non-treated infected group. With respect to the infected group, HEA reduced lipid peroxidation (LPO) (15.7 ± 1.12 (P ˂ 0.001)) and nitric oxide (NO) (13 ± 1.3 (P ˂ 0.001)) but increased reduced glutathione (GSH) (3.7 ± 0.26 (P ˂ 0.001)). In conclusion, HEA therapy protected against intestinal tissue damage by activation of CD4+CD25+Foxp3 cells which showed anti-inflammatory action. Hence, HEA can be recommended as a therapeutic treatment for eimeriosis.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Summary
Hirudo medicinalis extract antigens were tested in mice with Eimeria papillate infection; the most effective dose (5 µg/mice) cut oocyst output by 82.95% and jejunal developmental stages by 66.67%, with protection linked to activation of CD4+CD25+Foxp3 cells.
Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy
This study examined the protective effects of Hirudo extract antigens (HEA) against murine eimeriosis induced by Eimeria papillate in mice, measuring oocyst output, jejunal developmental stages, goblet cells, immune cell markers (CD4+, CD25+, FoxP3), cytokines, and oxidative stress parameters. The findings demonstrate that a Hirudo-derived extract exerts immunomodulatory effects—specifically activating CD4+CD25+FoxP3 regulatory T cells and shifting the cytokine balance toward anti-inflammatory mediators (TGF-β, IL-10) while reducing pro-inflammatory signals (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6)—suggesting that leech-derived components can influence T-cell-mediated immunity beyond the well-known anticoagulant properties associated with leech therapy. However, this is a preclinical murine model focused on a poultry parasitic disease; it does not involve live leeches or conventional hirudotherapy, and uses extract antigens rather than salivary secretions.
Citation
Reference (Vancouver style)
Al-Sayed SE, Abdel-Latif M, Abdel-Haleem HM, El-Shahawy G, Abdel-Tawab H. Therapeutic effects of Hirudo medicinalis extract antigens on modulation of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3 T cell activity in murine eimeriosis. Vet Parasitol. 2022;309:109772. doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2022.109772. PMID: 35917641
Bibliographic details (authors, volume, pages, DOI) are taken from the PubMed record.
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