Primary Infection by E. multilocularis Induces Distinct Patterns of Cross Talk between Hepatic Natural Killer T Cells and Regulatory T Cells in Mice

Abstract

The larval stage of the helminthic cestode Echinococcus multilocularis can inflict tumor-like hepatic lesions that cause the parasitic disease alveolar echinococcosis in humans, with high mortality in untreated patients. Opportunistic properties of the disease have been established based on the increased incidence in immunocompromised patients and mouse models, indicating that an appropriate adaptive immune response is required for the control of the disease.