Transient Ascaris suum larval migration induces intractable chronic pulmonary disease and anemia in mice

• Published in: PLoS neglected tropical diseases Vol. 15; no. 12; p. e0010050
• Main Authors: Wu, Yifan, Li, Evan, Knight, Morgan, Adeniyi-Ipadeola, Grace, Song, Li-Zhen, Burns, Alan R, Gazzinelli-Guimaraes, Ana Clara, Fujiwara, Ricardo, Bottazzi, Maria Elena, Weatherhead, Jill E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01.12.2021; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Allergic diseases; Anaemia; Anemia; Anemia - genetics; Anemia - immunology; Anemia - parasitology; Anemia - pathology; Animals; Ascariasis; Ascariasis - genetics; Ascariasis - immunology; Ascariasis - parasitology; Ascariasis - pathology; Ascaris; Ascaris suum - genetics; Ascaris suum - physiology; Asthma; Biology and Life Sciences; Chemokines; Chronic Disease; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Complications and side effects; Cytokines; Cytokines - genetics; Cytokines - immunology; Defence mechanisms; Development and progression; Developmental stages; Diseases; Emphysema; Female; Haemorrhage; Health aspects; Hemorrhage; Humans; Immune response; Immunity; Infections; Inflammation; Larva - genetics; Larva - physiology; Larvae; Larval development; Larval stage; Lavage; Ligands; Lung - immunology; Lung - parasitology; Lung - pathology; Lung diseases; Lung Diseases - genetics; Lung Diseases - immunology; Lung Diseases - parasitology; Lung Diseases - pathology; Lungs; Medicine and Health Sciences; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Morbidity; Obstructive lung disease; Parasites; Pathology; Research and Analysis Methods; Respiratory system; Respiratory tract diseases; Risk factors; Tropical diseases; United States
• ISSN: 1935-2735; 1935-2727; 1935-2735
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010050

Ascariasis is one of the most common infections in the world and associated with significant global morbidity. Ascaris larval migration through the host's lungs is essential for larval development but leads to an exaggerated type-2 host immune response manifesting clinically as acute allergic airway disease. However, whether Ascaris larval migration can subsequently lead to chronic lung diseases remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that a single episode of Ascaris larval migration through the host lungs induces a chronic pulmonary syndrome of type-2 inflammatory pathology and emphysema accompanied by pulmonary hemorrhage and chronic anemia in a mouse model. Our results reveal that a single episode of Ascaris larval migration through the host lungs leads to permanent lung damage with systemic effects. Remote episodes of ascariasis may drive non-communicable lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and chronic anemia in parasite endemic regions.