Effect of dexamethasone on albendazole cysticidal activity in experimental cysticercosis by Taenia crassiceps in BALB/c mice: In vitro and in vivo evaluation

• Published in: Experimental parasitology 2020-01, Vol.208, p.107801-107801, Article 107801
• Main Authors: Palomares-Alonso, Francisca, Toledo, Andrea, Palencia Hernández, Guadalupe, Jung-Cook, Helgi, Fleury, Agnès
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Albendazole; Albendazole - pharmacology; Albendazole - therapeutic use; Animals; Anthelmintics - pharmacology; Anthelmintics - therapeutic use; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; Cysticercosis - drug therapy; Dexamethasone; Dexamethasone - pharmacology; Dexamethasone - therapeutic use; Drug Interactions; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; In vitro/in vivo cysticidal activity; Interferon-gamma - blood; Interleukin-10 - blood; Interleukin-4 - blood; Interleukin-6 - blood; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Murine cysticercosis; Taenia - drug effects; Taenia crassiceps
• ISSN: 0014-4894; 1090-2449
• DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2019.107801

Taenia solium is a parasite whose larvae (cysticerci) can locate in the central nervous system of humans and cause neurocysticercosis (NC). The introduction of cysticidal drugs such as albendazole (ABZ) for the treatment of NC has significantly improved its prognosis. However, treatment is not always effective, and the high levels of corticosteroids used to prevent inflammatory complications in this disease could be, partly, the cause of this observation. In this context, this study investigated, using the experimental mouse model of intraperitoneal infection with Taenia crassiceps, the influence of corticosteroid administration on the therapeutic efficacy of ABZ. We evaluated and compared the effects of ABZ, dexamethasone (DXM) and their combination (ABZ + DXM) on cyst viability, both in vitro and in vivo. Serum levels of IL-4, IFN-gamma, IL-6 and IL-10 were evaluated in the in vivo study. Results showed that the treatment with ABZ, in vitro and in vivo, was associated with a high number of parasites deaths. Concomitant treatment with DXM did not alter ABZ in vitro cysticidal activity but reduced its effectiveness significantly in the in vivo experimental model. Cytokine serum levels did not change significantly in treated mice compared to the controls. The results of this study are relevant as they indicate a negative effect of corticosteroids on the efficacy of cysticidal therapy. In human neurocysticercosis, control of inflammation is of great importance to most patients in order to avoid complications. Corticosteroids are generally used for this purpose and the results of this study demonstrate the need to find other therapeutic strategies. Further studies are needed to better understand the mechanisms involved. [Display omitted] •In vitro, dexamethasone did not affect the viability of T. crassiceps nor the cysticidal activity of albendazole sulfoxide.•In vivo, dexamethasone significantly increased the number of non-gemmate parasites compared to the control.•Dexamethasone in combination with albendazole, reduced the in vivo cysticidal activity of albendazole.•These findings point to a negative effect of dexamethasone on the in vivo efficacy of albendazole.