Lymphatic filariasis: parallels between the immunology of infection in humans and mice

Mouse models of Brugia infection have provided much useful quantitative and qualitative information on the immune response elicited by different life cycle stages of filarial worms. Many parallels exist between the immune res ponse in the mouse and the infected human and in this review we highlight a reas of topical interest, including the induction of specific cytokine resp oses and their role in immunomodulation and protective immunity. These stud ies have reinforced the concept that different life cycle stages of filaria l parasites each have their own mechanism of modulating responses so that p otentially inflammatory IFN-gamma responses are downregulated. While the pr ecise mechanisms of protective immunity remain to be defined, studies in th e mouse have suggested novel pathways, including a possible role for granul ocytes.