Günter Lochnit, Roger D. Dennis, Rudolf Geyer
Phosphorylcholine Substituents in Nematodes: Structures, Occurrence and Biological Implications
Phosphorylcholine (PC), a small haptenic molecule, is
found in a wide variety of prokaryotic organisms, i. e.
bacteria, and in eukaryotic parasites such as nematodes,
as well as in fungi. Linked to parasite-specific
glycoprotein glycans or glycolipids, it is assumed to be
responsible for a variety of immunological effects, including
invasion mechanisms and long-term persistence
of parasites within the host. Numerous reports
have indicated various effects of PC-substituted molecules
derived from parasitic nematodes on signal
transduction pathways in B and T lymphocytes, displaying
a highly adapted and profound modulation of
the immune system by these parasites. The Nematoda,
comprising parasitic and free-living species, can
be regarded as promising prototypic systems for
structural analyses, immunological studies and biosynthetic
investigations. In this context, Ascaris suum,
the pig parasitic nematode, is an ideal organism for
immunological studies and an excellent source for
obtaining large amounts of PC-substituted (macro)-molecules. Caenorhabditis elegans, as a completely
genome-sequenced species and expressing parasite
analogous PC-substituted structures, together with
the possibility for easy in vitro cultivation, represents a
conceptual model for biosynthetic studies, whereas
filarial parasites represent important model systems
for human pathogens, especially in developing countries.
This review summarises current knowledge on
the tissue-specific expression of PC epitopes, structural
data of glycoprotein glycans and glycosphingolipids
bearing this substituent and biological implications
for the immune systems of the respective
hosts.
Biological Chemistry, Walter de Gruyter
Print ISSN: 1431-6730
Volume: 381, 09/2000
Pages: 839 - 847
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