Cestode regulation of inflammation and inflammatory diseases

► Mice infected with cestodes can be protected from inflammatory disease in the colon, joints and CNS. ► Features of helminth protection from concomitant disease include IL10 and regulatory T and B cells and macrophages. ► Poorly defined cestode excretory/secretory products have immunomodulatory properties as demonstrated in in vitro studies. ► Helminth therapy for inflammatory disease requires side-effect analyses and awareness of the potential to worsen disease.