[HTML][HTML] Human helminths and allergic disease: the hygiene hypothesis and beyond

HC Santiago, TB Nutman - The American journal of tropical …, 2016 - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
HC Santiago, TB Nutman
The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, 2016ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
There is much debate about the interaction between helminths and allergic disease. The
“Hygiene Hypothesis,” a very popular concept among scientists and the lay public, states
that infections, especially during childhood, can protect against allergic diseases. Indeed,
helminth infections are known to induce regulatory responses in the host that can help the
control of inflammation (including allergic inflammation). However, these infections also
induce type-2-associated immune responses including helminth-specific IgE that can cross …
Abstract
There is much debate about the interaction between helminths and allergic disease. The “Hygiene Hypothesis,” a very popular concept among scientists and the lay public, states that infections, especially during childhood, can protect against allergic diseases. Indeed, helminth infections are known to induce regulatory responses in the host that can help the control of inflammation (including allergic inflammation). However, these infections also induce type-2-associated immune responses including helminth-specific IgE that can cross-react against environmental allergens and mediate IgE-driven effector responses. Thus, it is the delicate balance between the parasites' anti-and pro-allergenic effects that define the helminth/allergy interface.
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