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Anti-inflammatory defense mechanisms of Entamoeba histolytica

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Abstract

The monocyte locomotion inhibitory factor (MLIF), a heat-stable oligopeptide found in the supernatant fluid of Entamoeba histolytica axenic cultures, may contribute to the delayed inflammation observed in amoebic hepatic abscess. This factor was isolated by ultra-filtration and high powered liquid chromatography, obtaining a primary Met-Gln-Cys-Asn-Ser structure, identified afterwards as the carboxyl-terminal (…Cys-Asn-Ser) active site. The selective anti-inflammatory effects of the pentapeptide have been observed in both in vitro and in vivo models, using a synthetic pentapeptide to maintain the same anti-inflammatory conditions during the experimental assays. Anti-inflammatory effects observed include inhibition of human monocyte locomotion and the respiratory burst in monocytes and neutrophils, increasing expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines and inhibiting expression of the adhesion molecules VLA-4 and VCAM, among others. In this review, we will describe the effects of MLIF detected so far and how it might be used as a therapeutical agent against inflammatory diseases.

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  1. Unidad de Investigación Médica en Inmunología, Hospital de Pediatría, CMN-Siglo XXI, Avenida Cuauhtémoc #330, CP. 06720, México, D.F., México

    Raúl Silva-García

  2. División de Investigación, Facultad de Medicina UNAM, Av. Universidad 3000 circuito escolar s/n, Col. Copilco, Delegación Coyoacán, C.P. 04510, México, D.F., México

    Guadalupe Rico-Rosillo

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Correspondence to Raúl Silva-García.

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Silva-García, R., Rico-Rosillo, G. Anti-inflammatory defense mechanisms of Entamoeba histolytica . Inflamm. Res. 60, 111–117 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00011-010-0261-x

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