Roles of immunosuppressive molecules in parasitic protozoan and helminth infections

doi:10.12140/j.issn.1000-7423.2026.04.021

Abstract

Abstract:

Parasite infection will induce host innate and specific immune responses. Some helminth and protozoan can evade host immune response, resulting in long-term parasitism. Immune checkpoints are widely expressed in various types of immune cells, which can induce immune exhaustion and suppress immune response. In recent years, studies have found that immunosuppressive molecules programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1), cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3) and T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3 (Tim-3) are widely expressed in hosts infected with helminth and protozoa, playing an important role in regulating host immune function. Exploring the role of immunosuppressive molecules in helminth and protozoan infections is of great reference value for drug development and clinical diagnosis and treatment. Hence, we provide a summary of this review article to summarize the recent research studies on progress of the immunosuppressive molecules and its role in protozoan and helminth infection.

Key words: Helminth infection, Protozoan infection, Immunosuppression, Immunosuppressive molecules, Immune exhaustion

CLC Number:

YANG Yuxuan, WU Binjie, FAN Haining. Roles of immunosuppressive molecules in parasitic protozoan and helminth infections[J]. CHINESE JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY AND PARASITIC DISEASES, 2026, 44(4): 600-607.

Figures/Tables 1

References 71

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