Modulation of inflammatory bowel disease in a mouse model following infection with Trichinella spiralis.

Infection of mice with Trichinella spiralis redirects the mucosal immune system from a Th1 to a protective Th2 response with a reduction in the severity of trinitrobenzesulfonic acid-induced colonic damage. T. spiralis infection induced IL-10 production in a dose-dependent manner in oxazolone (OXZ)-induced colitis. This phenomenon may be responsible for the lack of efficacy of T. spiralis in the treatment of OXZ-induced colitis. These results indicate that if the source of increased IL-10 production is identified and addressed, T. spiralis may alter the Th2 response.