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38 PARASITIC HELMINTHS TO TREAT IBD - IT MAY NOT BE FOR EVERYONE M Hunter, A Wang, DM McKay We showed that infection with the rat tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta before the onset of DNBS-induced colitis (TH1 model) reduces the severity of the disease. Given recent data that ingestion of Trichuris suis ova can be beneficial for patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, we assessed the impact of H diminuta infection on the outcome of oxazolone-induced colitis in mice (ie, a TH2 model). Male BALB/c mice received five viable H diminuta larvae followed eight days later by oxazolone (3 mg ir in 50% EtOH) and mice were assessed 72 h later. Mice receiving oxazolone developed signs of colitis (increased clinical score, shortening of the colon, increased MPO activity [table]), but the treatment was not fatal. However, prior infections with H diminuta resulted in 50% mortality (five of 10 mice) and significantly more severe colitis as compared with oxazolone only treated mice. These preliminary data indicate that the anticolitic effect evoked in response to H diminuta infection in mice does not extend to all models of colonic inflammation. Thus, while our earlier data support the use of parasitic helminths as an adjunct to current IBD treatments, this study suggests that the underlying disease should be carefully characterized before helminth therapy is attempted.
Intestinal Disease Research Programme, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario
Mean±SEM; *and †P<0.05 compared with control and oxazolone only)Treatment (n=3-7) Weight D (g) MPO Colon length (mm) Clinical score Control +0.3±0.1 0.31±0.11 100±1 0±0 H diminuta +0.4±0.1 0.26±0.09 103±4 0±0 Oxazolone +0.1±0.2 0.77±0.24 91±2* 1.0±0.2* H diminuta + oxazolone -1.3±0.4† 1.95±0.41† 82±2 † 2.7±0.7†
Funded by the Crohn's and Colitis foundation of Canada