Serine protease inhibitor from Trichinella spiralis ameliorates diet-induced obesity and adipose tissue inflammation through TIM-3-dependent macrophage reprogramming

Mingwei Tong, Ge Liu, Guidong Ren, Wangxuan Zhang, Yuyu Qiao, Xiaodan Yang, Weiping Fan, Hui Yang and Yong Yang

PLOS Pathogens, 2026, vol. 22, issue 9, 1-24

Abstract: Pro-inflammatory M1 polarization of adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) drives adipose inflammation and obesity, suggesting that reprogramming ATM polarization holds therapeutic promise. Parasitic helminths have co-evolved with hosts to induce immune tolerance via M2 polarization, making helminth-derived M2-inducing molecules a potential therapeutic strategy against metabolic disorders. This study aimed to develop a defined serine protease inhibitor derived from Trichinella spiralis (Ts-SPI) as a novel immunomodulatory candidate against diet-induced metabolic disorders. In a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mouse model, recombinant Ts-SPI (rTs-SPI) attenuated obesity and adipose tissue inflammation, and this effect was associated with its ability to reprogram macrophage polarization. In vitro studies confirmed that rTs-SPI drives phenotypic changes in both RAW264.7 cells and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs). Notably, a free fatty acid (FFA)-stimulated inflammatory adipocyte model and adoptive transfer assays demonstrated that rTs-SPI-reprogrammed macrophages mediate the anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory effects. Mechanistically, TIM-3 was identified as a key mediator through in vivo TIM-3 blockade assays. Pharmacological inhibition revealed downstream PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling. In summary, this study identifies a parasite-derived protein as a potent TIM-3-targeting biologic candidate for treating metabolic inflammation, proposes a novel “helminth-inspired checkpoint modulation” strategy, and provides new insight into parasite-host immune crosstalk.Author summary: Pro-inflammatory M1 polarization of adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) serves as a key driver of metabolic inflammation. Repolarizing ATMs toward an anti-inflammatory M2 state represents a promising therapeutic strategy. Parasitic helminths naturally induce M2 responses to evade host immunity, suggesting they could serve as a natural source of therapeutic molecules. Here we demonstrate that a defined serine protease inhibitor derived from Trichinella spiralis (Ts-SPI) effectively counteracts obesity in high-fat diet-fed mice. rTs-SPI treatment attenuates adipose inflammation and reprograms ATMs from M1 to M2 phenotype. rTs-SPI-triggered immunomodulation was confirmed in RAW264.7 cells and bone marrow-derived macrophages. The functional role of rTs-SPI-reprogrammed macrophages was validated using a free fatty acid-stimulated adipocyte model and adoptive transfer assays. Mechanistically, in vivo immune checkpoint TIM-3 blockade identified TIM-3 as a key mediator, with downstream PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling involved. This study identifies a parasite-derived biologic candidate, supports a novel “helminth-inspired checkpoint modulation” strategy for metabolic inflammation, and provides new insight into parasite-host immune crosstalk.

Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:ppat00:1014606

DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1014606

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