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The effects of helminth infections against type 2 diabetes

  • Immunology and Host-Parasite Interactions - Review
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Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is a prevalent inflammation-related disease characterized by insulin resistance and elevated blood glucose levels. The high incidence rate of T2D in Western societies may be due to environmental conditions, including reduced worm exposure. In human and animal models, some helminths, such as Schistosoma, Nippostrongylus, Strongyloides, and Heligmosomoides, and their products reportedly ameliorate or prevent T2D progression. T2D induces adaptive immune pathways involved in the inhibition of type 1 immune responses, promotion of type 2 immune responses, and expansion of regulatory T cells and innate immune cells, such as macrophages, eosinophils, and group 2 innate lymphoid cells. Among immune cells expanded in T2DM, type 2 immune cells and macrophages are the most important and may have synergistic effects. The stimulation of host immunity by helminth infections also promotes interactions between the innate and adaptive immune systems. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive review of intestinal helminths’ protective effects against T2D.

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Funding

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China grant [grant number: 82070810, 2021], Science and Technology Research Project of Hubei Provincial Department of Education [grant number: B2019362, 2019), Research Projects of Hubei Provincial Health Commission [grant number: WJ2017X30, 2017] and Independent Research Talents Fund Project of City College, Wuhan University of Science and Technology [grant number: 2019CYBSKY002, 2019].

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  1. Yan-ru Gao and Rong-hui Zhang contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Department, City College, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430083, China

    Yan-ru Gao

  2. Wuchang Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430063, China

    Rong-hui Zhang, Ru Li, Chun-lian Tang & Qun Pan

  3. Wuhan Institute for Tuberculosis Control, Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital, Wuhan, 430030, China

    Peng Pen

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  1. Yan-ru Gao
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  2. Rong-hui Zhang
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  4. Chun-lian Tang
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Correspondence to Chun-lian Tang, Qun Pan or Peng Pen.

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Gao, Yr., Zhang, Rh., Li, R. et al. The effects of helminth infections against type 2 diabetes. Parasitol Res 120, 1935–1942 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-021-07189-6

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