Human gnathostomiasis is mainly caused by third-stage larvae of Gnathostoma spinigerum (G. spinigerum L3). Excretory-secretory products (ES) released from infective helminthic larvae are associated with larval migration and host immunity modulation. Natural killer (NK) cells have important immune functions against helminth infection. Currently, the effects of ES from G. spinigerum L3 (G. spinigerum ES) on NK cell activity are unclear. This study investigated whether G. spinigerum ES affected human NK cells. Human normal peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures were used to mimic immune cells within the circulation. PBMC were co-cultured with G. spinigerum ES (0.01-0.05 μg/ml) for 5 or 7 days. Levels of IFN-γ in cultured supernatants were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expressions of mRNA encoding NK cell receptors, especially the C type killer cell lectin-like family (KLR; NKG2A, NKG2C, and NKG2D) and IFN-γ in ES induced PBMC were determined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). ES induced PBMC markedly decreased the levels of IFN-γ and increased the expressions of NKG2A and NKG2D on NK cells. In conclusion, low amounts of G. spinigerum ES modulated NK cells by downregulating the transcription of IFN-γ and upregulating the expressions of KLR (NKG2A and NKG2D receptors) during the 7-day observation period. These findings indicate more in-depth studies of NK cell function are required to better understand the mechanism involved in immune evasive strategies of human gnathostomiasis.
Keywords: Excretory-secretory products; Gnathostoma spinigerum; IFN-γ; Killer cell lectin-like receptors; NK cell.