ABSTRACT

During recent decades, studies from Western countries suggest that there has been a significant increase in the incidence and prevalence of atopic diseases. Epidemiological studies have shown an inverse relationship between geohelminth infection and allergy leading to the suggestion that geohelminths protect against allergy. Geohelminth parasites modulate allergic inflammation directed against parasite antigens and the same mechanisms may affect responses to inhalant aeroallergens. Recently, it has been demonstrated that helminths induce suppressed host immune responses by the priming for regulatory T cells. New treatments being considered for the treatment of asthma include live infections with hookworms. Insights provided by how geohelminths modulate inflammatory responses may allow the development of new treatments that mimic these effects.