Cited by 222Parasites and Host InteractionsHelminth infection and controlExtracellular vesicles in disease

Extracellular vesicles from a helminth parasite suppress macrophage activation and constitute an effective vaccine for protective immunity

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Coakley, Gillian, McCaskill, Jana L., Borger, Jessica G., Simbari, Fabio, Robertson, Elaine, Millar, Marissa, Harcus, Yvonne, McSorley, Henry J. +2 more·2017·Cell Reports

Abstract

Recent studies have demonstrated that many parasites release extracellular vesicles (EVs), yet little is known about the specific interactions of EVs with immune cells or their functions during infection. We show that EVs secreted by the gastrointestinal nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus are internalized by macrophages and modulate their activation. EV internalization causes downregulation of type 1 and type 2 immune-response-associated molecules (IL-6 and TNF, and Ym1 and RELMα) and inhibits expression of the IL-33 receptor subunit ST2. Co-incubation with EV antibodies abrogated suppression of alternative activation and was associated with increased co-localization of the EVs with lysosomes. Furthermore, mice vaccinated with EV-alum generated protective immunity against larval challenge, highlighting an important role in vivo. In contrast, ST2-deficient mice are highly susceptible to infection, and they are unable to clear parasites following EV vaccination. Hence, macrophage activation and the IL-33 pathway are targeted by H. polygyrus EVs, while neutralization of EV function facilitates parasite expulsion.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.05.001

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  • Helminths release extracellular vesicles, often termed exosomes, which are able to fuse and enter host cells, carrying with them a cargo of miRNAs.

    “A paradigm-shifting discovery has been that helminths release extracellular vesicles (EVs), often termed exosomes, which are able to fuse and enter host cells, carrying with them a cargo of miRNAs (Buck et al., 2014, Coakley et al., 2017).”

    From Modulation of Host Immunity by Helminths: The Expanding Repertoire of Parasite Effector Molecules (2018) · cites this paper as Coakley et al., 2017

    The Introduction (page unavailable) says helminths release exosome-like EVs containing small non-coding RNAs. The Results section on EV uptake (page unavailable) shows that H. polygyrus EVs enter macrophages and intestinal epithelial cells. Our copy does not identify the RNA cargo specifically as miRNAs or show that entry occurs by fusion. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • In H. polygyrus infections, EVs target epithelial cells and macrophages, resulting in their loss of expression of the IL-33 receptor and downregulation of other immune genes.

    “In H. polygyrus infections, these EVs target epithelial cells and macrophages, resulting in their loss of expression of the IL-33 receptor (IL-33R, also termed ST2) and downregulation of other immune genes.”

    From Modulation of Host Immunity by Helminths: The Expanding Repertoire of Parasite Effector Molecules (2018) · cites this paper as Coakley et al., 2017

    The Results sections on EV uptake and ST2/IL-33R show that H. polygyrus EVs enter cultured epithelial cells and macrophages and suppress ST2 expression in macrophages. The paper also reports earlier findings of ST2-gene suppression in an epithelial cell line, while its macrophage-activation Results show reduced expression of other immune genes. These experiments do not establish that the same changes occur in epithelial cells and macrophages during H. polygyrus infection. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • EVs are an adaptable part of the armory of helminth immunomodulators, allowing extracellular pathogens to manipulate events within host cells in a receptor-independent manner.

    “Hence EVs are an adaptable part of the armory of helminth immunomodulators, allowing extracellular pathogens to manipulate events within host cells in a receptor-independent manner (Coakley et al., 2017).”

    From Modulation of Host Immunity by Helminths: The Expanding Repertoire of Parasite Effector Molecules (2018) · cites this paper as Coakley et al., 2017

    The Introduction and Discussion report that EVs from an extracellular helminth enter host cells and suppress macrophage activation, supporting their role as immunomodulators. The Discussion does not establish that this occurs independently of receptors; it raises CD206 binding as a possible route for EV uptake. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • H. polygyrus releases small RNA-containing extracellular vesicles that suppress transcription of the IL-33 receptor.

    “through the release of small RNA-containing extracellular vesicles that suppress transcription of the IL-33 receptor”
  • These EV effects result in suppression of both alternative and inflammatory macrophage activation.

    “These effects result in suppression of both alternative and inflammatory macrophage activation (Coakley et al., 2017).”

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Authors
Coakley, G., McCaskill, J. L., Borger, J. G., Simbari, F., Robertson, E., Millar, M., Harcus, Y., McSorley, H. J., Maizels, R. M., & Buck, A. H.
Affiliations
  • Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution (GB)
  • Centre for Inflammation Research (GB)
  • Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology (GB)
Corresponding author
  • Maizels, Rick M.
  • Buck, Amy H.
Venue
Cell Reports
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2017-05
Volume
19
Issue
8
Pages
1545-1557
ISSN
2211-1247 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2618954565
Cited by
219
References
53
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 38 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 4
FWCI
20.37
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cell Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Discovery Research Portal (University of Dundee) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • ENLIGHTEN (Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling Islam) (acceptedVersion)
  • Monash University Research Portal (Monash University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Edinburgh Research Explorer (University of Edinburgh) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/J01446X/1)
  • Wellcome Trust (AHB-097394, RMM-106122, 095831, 104111)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Parasitology › Parasites and Host Interactions
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Helminth infection and control
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Extracellular vesicles in disease
Keywords
extracellular vesicles, Heligmosomoides polygyrus, macrophage activation, alternative macrophage activation, vaccines, nematode infection, interleukin-6, TNF-α, Ym1, RELMα, protective immunity
MeSH terms
Extracellular Vesicles, Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein, Animals, Antibodies, Helminth, Antibody Formation, Bone Marrow Cells, Immunity, Macrophage Activation, Macrophages, Nematospiroides dubius, Parasites, Vaccination, Vaccines, Cytochalasin D, Receptors, Interleukin, Mice

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