Induction of interferon-γ by Taenia crassiceps glycans and Lewis sugars in naive BALB/c spleen and peritoneal exudate cells

Helminth parasites are known to alter host immune responses and the responsible molecules are a potential source of biological immunoadjuvants. Previously, we have reported strong Th-2 type immunomodulatory properties of Taenia crassiceps glycans. In this study, we report interferon-γ (IFN-γ) stimulatory activity of fractionated Taenia glycans and Lewis sugars with comparable glycan composition. Our data show that Taenia glycans and Lewis X pentasaccharide are potent stimulators of the Th-1 type cytokine IFN-γ. We postulate that the terminal β-(1-4)-galactose residue in Lewis X is associated with IFN-γ stimulation from naive BALB/c mouse spleen and peritoneal exudate cells. Antibodies to toll-like receptors (TLRs) inhibited the Lewis X-induced IFN-γ secretion. Lewis X up-regulated the expression of NF-κB p65 from naive spleen cells and IFN-γ transcription in peritoneal exudate cells. These data demonstrate the ability of Lewis type helminth glycans to modulate host responses in a Th-1 direction via NF-κB p65, IFN-γ and macrophage TLRs.