Скачать или смотреть Parasites: Villains or Healers? Surprising Links to Autoimmune Disease and Cancer

The immune system is a balancing act. In some cases, parasites can suppress immune overreaction—possibly preventing or slowing autoimmune disease. In others, they can tip the balance toward immune dysfunction, especially in vulnerable people.
“Hygiene Hypothesis”
“Asthma, Crohn’s, MS, Lupus linked to lack of immune training.”
“Chronic helminth infections suppress overactive immune responses.”
— Briggs et al., 2025
“Toxoplasma gondii may both stimulate tumorigenesis and enhance anti-tumor immunity.”
— Springer, 2024
“Parasites like Babesia and Leishmania pose major risks to immunocompromised hosts.”
— Aftab et al., 2024
Engeroff et al. (2024) showed that natural IgE, which usually fights parasites, may also boost immune surveillance of tumors.
Other studies show NETs, or neutrophil extracellular traps, have dual roles—trapping parasites, but also increasing risk for autoimmune damage and even cancer spread.

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