Oliveira fms et al 2020.pdf

Human ascariasis is considered the most prevalent neglected tropical disease in the world. The immune response in human ascariasis is characterized by a Th2 polarization, as well as a mixed Th2 / Th17 response present in the pathogenesis of experimental larval ascariasis. Proinflammatory cytokines are essential to induce nitric oxide synthesis via inducible nitric oxide enzyme expression. Several studies have shown the participation of nitric oxide in helminth infections such as <i>Brugia malayi</i>, <i>Toxocara canis</i>, <i>Schistosoma mansoni</i>, <i>Echinococcus granulosus</i> and <i>Strongyloides venezuelensis, </i>however its role in ascariasis remains unknown. To elucidade the role of nitric oxide in ascariasis, C57BL/6 mice iNOS knockout were evaluated during acute infection of ascaris to report the possible participation of nitric oxide on parasitological and immunopathological aspects. We reported nitric oxide as a crucial inflammatory molecule to control the parasite establishment and development of host immune response to infection in the liver.