Parasitic worm molecule could be used in new drugs for rheumatoid arthritis and lupus

A molecule found in the bodies of parasitic worms could one day be used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, says research published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.
Helminthic therapy involves deliberate infection with parasitic worms to send autoimmune diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus) into remission.
Experts looked at how the parasitic hookworm Ancylostoma caninum suppresses the body’s immune response. They discovered that a peptide called AcK1 dampens the immune system by inhibiting a key potassium channel.
The molecules responsible for the beneficial effects could theoretically be used to develop a drug that could dampen the activity of the immune system.
The authors suggest that the rise in autoimmune diseases in western societies could therefore be due to the increased focus on cleanliness because the immune system is no longer exposed to the same range of infections that it once was.
“There could be some truth to this, because worm infection is virtually unheard of in developed countries, yet the incidence of autoimmune diseases is high,” says Prof Ray Norton, lead researcher. “But in developing countries the opposite is true.”
An Arthritis Research UK spokeswoman comments:
“We really welcome this research that identifies a new compound that could be used to suppress the immune system. We will be watching this develop closely, as it has potential to treat autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and childhood arthritis.

Photo credit: CDC