[Hormones and immunity to parasitic apicomplexans]. 2009

Henryka Długońska, and Katarzyna Dzitko
Zakład Immunoparazytologii, Katedra Immunologii i Biologii Infekcyjnej, Uniwersytet Łódzki, ul. Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Łódź. hdlugo@biol.uni.lodz.pl

Several studies revealed a close functional relations between the immune, nervous and endocrine systems which communicate between each other using the common mediators and their receptors. The immune cells not only receive signals from the endocrine system but also produce numerous hormones, usually after stimulation with antigens including parasites antigens. On the other hand, parasites are able to exploit hormonal microenvironment within the host to establish an infection and avoid the eradication by evolving receptors for host hormones. Some parasites produce also steroid hormones and alter host hormones levels. Increasing numbers of prophylaxis and therapy procedures involve hormones as main or supplementary components (e.g., estrogens, dexamethasone or insulin). The aim of this paper is to present new literature data concerning the immunomodulatory effect of selected hormones in infections caused by two parasitic apicomplexans: Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium spp. In addition to sex- and pregnancy- associated hormones which determine dimorphic immune responses in females versus males, the action of other hormones of great physiological importance will also be discussed.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008288 Malaria A protozoan disease caused in humans by four species of the PLASMODIUM genus: PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM; PLASMODIUM VIVAX; PLASMODIUM OVALE; and PLASMODIUM MALARIAE; and transmitted by the bite of an infected female mosquito of the genus ANOPHELES. Malaria is endemic in parts of Asia, Africa, Central and South America, Oceania, and certain Caribbean islands. It is characterized by extreme exhaustion associated with paroxysms of high FEVER; SWEATING; shaking CHILLS; and ANEMIA. Malaria in ANIMALS is caused by other species of plasmodia. Marsh Fever,Plasmodium Infections,Remittent Fever,Infections, Plasmodium,Paludism,Fever, Marsh,Fever, Remittent,Infection, Plasmodium,Plasmodium Infection
D008297 Male Males
D010961 Plasmodium A genus of protozoa that comprise the malaria parasites of mammals. Four species infect humans (although occasional infections with primate malarias may occur). These are PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM; PLASMODIUM MALARIAE; PLASMODIUM OVALE, and PLASMODIUM VIVAX. Species causing infection in vertebrates other than man include: PLASMODIUM BERGHEI; PLASMODIUM CHABAUDI; P. vinckei, and PLASMODIUM YOELII in rodents; P. brasilianum, PLASMODIUM CYNOMOLGI; and PLASMODIUM KNOWLESI in monkeys; and PLASMODIUM GALLINACEUM in chickens. Plasmodiums
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D005260 Female Females
D006728 Hormones Chemical substances having a specific regulatory effect on the activity of a certain organ or organs. The term was originally applied to substances secreted by various ENDOCRINE GLANDS and transported in the bloodstream to the target organs. It is sometimes extended to include those substances that are not produced by the endocrine glands but that have similar effects. Hormone,Hormone Receptor Agonists,Agonists, Hormone Receptor,Receptor Agonists, Hormone
D006790 Host-Parasite Interactions The relationship between an invertebrate and another organism (the host), one of which lives at the expense of the other. Traditionally excluded from definition of parasites are pathogenic BACTERIA; FUNGI; VIRUSES; and PLANTS; though they may live parasitically. Host-Parasite Relations,Parasite-Host Relations,Host-Parasite Relationship,Parasite-Host Interactions,Host Parasite Interactions,Host Parasite Relations,Host Parasite Relationship,Host-Parasite Interaction,Host-Parasite Relation,Host-Parasite Relationships,Interaction, Host-Parasite,Interaction, Parasite-Host,Interactions, Host-Parasite,Interactions, Parasite-Host,Parasite Host Interactions,Parasite Host Relations,Parasite-Host Interaction,Parasite-Host Relation,Relation, Host-Parasite,Relation, Parasite-Host,Relations, Host-Parasite,Relations, Parasite-Host,Relationship, Host-Parasite,Relationships, Host-Parasite
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014122 Toxoplasma A genus of protozoa parasitic to birds and mammals. T. gondii is one of the most common infectious pathogenic animal parasites of man. Toxoplasma gondii,Toxoplasma gondius,Toxoplasmas,gondius, Toxoplasma

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