A role of mast cell glycosaminoglycans for the immunological expulsion of intestinal nematode, Strongyloides venezuelensis

We examined effects of mast cell glycosaminoglycans on the establishment of the intestinal nematode, Strongyloides venezuelensis, in the mouse small i ntestine. When intestinal mastocytosis occurred, surgically implanted adult worms could not invade and establish in the intestinal mucosa, In mast cel l-deficient W/W-v mice, inhibition of adult worm invasion was not evident a s compared with littermate +/+ control mice, Mucosal mastocytosis and inhib ition of S. venezuelensis adult worm mucosal invasion was tightly correlate d. To determine effector molecules for the invasion inhibition, adult worms were implanted with various sulfated carbohydrates including mast cell gly cosaminoglycans, Among sulfated carbohydrates tested, chondroitin sulfate ( ChS)-A, ChS-E, heparin, and dextran sulfate inhibited invasion of adult wor ms into intestinal mucosa in vivo. No significant inhibition was observed w ith ChS-C, desulfated chondroitin, and dextran:, ChS-E, heparin, and dextra n sulfate inhibited adhesion of S, venezuelensis adult worms to plastic sur faces in vitro. Furthermore, binding of intestinal epithelial cells to adhe sion substances of S. venezuelensis, which have been implicated in mucosal invasion, was inhibited by ChS-E, heparin, and dextran sulfate. Because adu lt worms of S, venezuelensis were actively moving in the intestinal mucosa, probably exiting and reentering during infection, the possible expulsion m echanism for S, venezuelensis is inhibition by mast cell glycosaminoglycans of attachment and subsequent invasion of adult worms into intestinal epith elium.