Background: Epidemiological studies suggest an inverse relationship between helminth infections and allergic disease. Innate immunity especially antigen presenting cells (APC) have key role for initiation of allergic responses. Numerous investigations revealed role of pattern recognition receptors (PRR) on APCs to balance or imbalance of immune responses. It seems TLR4 is the most important PRR that plays key role during asthma, on the other hand several studies have shown helminth parasites are masterful modulators of TLRs. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of excretory-secretory (ES) product of Marshallagia marshalli on expression of TLR4 in spleen of asthmatic mice. Material and Methods: Allergic airway inflammation was induced in BALB/c mice by sensitization with ovalbumin. The effect of M.marshali excretory-secretory (ES) product on the development of asthma was evaluated by serum antibody titers, lung histology and cell counts. When mice were sensitized with ovalbumin together with the ES, cellular infiltration into the lung was dramatically reduced in comparison with the ovalbumin-treated group. Results: Results of quantitative real time PCR showed ES product of M.marshali decreased expression of total TLR4 in some of asthmatic mice. Conclusion: This study provides new insights into immune modulation through TLR4 by the M.marshali ES product, which attenuated airway inflammation in mice.

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