| Summary: | 碩士 === 高雄醫學大學 === 醫學研究所碩士班 === 94 === Angiostrongylus cantonensis (the rat lung worm) is the principle cause of eosinophilic meningitis or meningoencephalitis worldwide. However, there is still something unknown about the molecules secreted by the parasite that modulate host immune responses or epithelial barrier function in the brain. The current investigation was undertaken to investigate whether any immunomodulatory compounds could be identified from secretions of A.cantonensis. It is considered that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is one of the compounds the parasite induced and cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes are responsible for the biosynthesis of PGE2 depended on the metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA). Rescently, two COX isoforms have been cloned (COX-1 and COX-2) .Various studies suggest that aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can inhibit the activity of cyclooxygenase enzymes. In vitro, live A.cantonensis was incubated with arachidonic acid and aid drugs like aspirin, indomethacin , nimesulide and SC560. Here it is found that A.cantonensis is involved in PGE2 production, but the inhibitors did not inhibit its COX activity.In vivo, mice was infected with A.cantonensis and then collected CSF of mice at different days. In this study, the concentration of PGE2 in the condition medium and CSF was determined by FPIA. It is found that the concentration of PGE2 is dose-dependent and time-dependent after infected with A.cantonensis. And COX-inhibitor like aspirin and indomethacin can’t inhibit the COX activity effectively and reduce the PGE2 production. It is considered that finding the COX-like inhibitor to reduce PGE2 concentration may be the way for relieving symptoms of eosinophilic meningitis in the future.
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