Abstract
Recent experimental evidence suggests that parasites can not only evade immune responses actively but also exploit the hormonal microenvironment within the host to favor their establishment, growth and reproduction. The benefit for parasites of hormonal exploitation is so great that they have evolved structures similar to the steroid and protein hormone receptors expressed in upper vertebrates that can bind to the hormonal metabolites synthesized by the host. This strategy is exemplified by two parasites that respond to adrenal steroids and sexual steroids, respectively: Schistosoma mansoni and Taenia crassiceps. Understanding how the host endocrine system can, under certain circumstances, favor the establishment of a parasite, and characterizing the parasite hormone receptors that are involved might aid the design of hormonal analogs and drugs that affect the parasite exclusively.
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 588-593 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Trends in Parasitology |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 12 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2005 |
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Keywords
- taenia crassiceps cysticercosis
- pituitary adrenal axis
- schistosoma mansoni
- onchocerca-volvulus
- growth factor
- in vitro
- plasmodium-falciparum
- reproductive system
- filarial parasites
Cite this
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Parasite regulation by host hormones: an old mechanism of host exploitation? / Escobedo, G ; Roberts, C W ; Carrero, J C ; Morales-Montor, J .
In: Trends in Parasitology, Vol. 21, No. 12, 12.2005, p. 588-593.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Parasite regulation by host hormones: an old mechanism of host exploitation?
AU - Escobedo, G
AU - Roberts, C W
AU - Carrero, J C
AU - Morales-Montor, J
PY - 2005/12
Y1 - 2005/12
N2 - Recent experimental evidence suggests that parasites can not only evade immune responses actively but also exploit the hormonal microenvironment within the host to favor their establishment, growth and reproduction. The benefit for parasites of hormonal exploitation is so great that they have evolved structures similar to the steroid and protein hormone receptors expressed in upper vertebrates that can bind to the hormonal metabolites synthesized by the host. This strategy is exemplified by two parasites that respond to adrenal steroids and sexual steroids, respectively: Schistosoma mansoni and Taenia crassiceps. Understanding how the host endocrine system can, under certain circumstances, favor the establishment of a parasite, and characterizing the parasite hormone receptors that are involved might aid the design of hormonal analogs and drugs that affect the parasite exclusively.
AB - Recent experimental evidence suggests that parasites can not only evade immune responses actively but also exploit the hormonal microenvironment within the host to favor their establishment, growth and reproduction. The benefit for parasites of hormonal exploitation is so great that they have evolved structures similar to the steroid and protein hormone receptors expressed in upper vertebrates that can bind to the hormonal metabolites synthesized by the host. This strategy is exemplified by two parasites that respond to adrenal steroids and sexual steroids, respectively: Schistosoma mansoni and Taenia crassiceps. Understanding how the host endocrine system can, under certain circumstances, favor the establishment of a parasite, and characterizing the parasite hormone receptors that are involved might aid the design of hormonal analogs and drugs that affect the parasite exclusively.
KW - taenia crassiceps cysticercosis
KW - pituitary adrenal axis
KW - schistosoma mansoni
KW - onchocerca-volvulus
KW - growth factor
KW - in vitro
KW - plasmodium-falciparum
KW - reproductive system
KW - filarial parasites
U2 - 10.1016/j.pt.2005.09.013
DO - 10.1016/j.pt.2005.09.013
M3 - Review article
VL - 21
SP - 588
EP - 593
JO - Trends in Parasitology
T2 - Trends in Parasitology
JF - Trends in Parasitology
SN - 1471-4922
IS - 12
ER -