IS THE INDUCTION OF APOPTOSIS THE MECHANISM OF THE PROTECTIVE EFFECTSOF TNF-ALPHA IN HELMINTH INFECTION

Tumour necrosis factor alpha has been implicated in protective immune responses to a number of parasitic helminths. However, the final effec tor mechanisms resulting in death or expulsion of the parasite are unc lear. Here we suggest that, by employing phylogenetically conserved me chanisms, the mammalian immune system is able to interfere with helmin th development directly and that the protective effects of TNF alpha i n helminth infections may operate via the induction of parasite apopto sis.