Lack of detectable short-term effects of a single dose of ivermectin on the human immune system

Background Ivermectin is widely used in human and animal medicine to treat and prevent parasite nematode infections. It has been suggested that its mode of action requires the host immune system, as it is difficult to reproduce its clinical efficacy in vitro. We therefore studied the effects of a si...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Parasites & vectors 2021-06, Vol.14 (1), p.304-304, Article 304
Main Authors: Wilson, Natalie E., Reaves, Barbara J., Wolstenholme, Adrian J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Blood
blood flow
blood serum
Brugia malayi
Chemokines
computer software
Cytokine
Cytokines
Drugs
Gene expression
Genes
humans
Hypotheses
Immune system
Immunity
Ivermectin
Leukocytes
Leukocytes (mononuclear)
Leukocytes (polymorphonuclear)
Ligands
Lymphatic filariasis
Mammals
mechanism of action
Medical sciences
medicine
microfilariae
Mode of action
Nematodes
Neutrophils
Parasites
people
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells
Placebos
Polymorphonuclear cells
Serum
Serum levels
travel
Tropical diseases
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Summary:Background Ivermectin is widely used in human and animal medicine to treat and prevent parasite nematode infections. It has been suggested that its mode of action requires the host immune system, as it is difficult to reproduce its clinical efficacy in vitro. We therefore studied the effects of a single dose of ivermectin (Stromectol®—0.15 mg/kg) on cytokine levels and immune cell gene expression in human volunteers. This dose reduces bloodstream microfilariae rapidly and for several months when given in mass drug administration programmes. Methods Healthy volunteers with no travel history to endemic regions were given 3–4 tablets, depending on their weight, of either ivermectin or a placebo. Blood samples were drawn immediately prior to administration, 4 h and 24 h afterwards, and complete blood counts performed. Serum levels of 41 cytokines and chemokines were measured using Luminex® and expression levels of 770 myeloid-cell-related genes determined using the NanoString nCounter®. Cytokine levels at 4 h and 24 h post-treatment were compared to the levels pre-treatment using simple t tests to determine if any individual results required further investigation, taking p =  
ISSN:1756-3305
1756-3305
DOI:10.1186/s13071-021-04810-6