The human nervous tissue in proximity to granulomatous lesions induced by Taenia solium metacestodes displays an active response.

In neurocysticercosis, the nervous tissue surrounding the brain lesion is affected as a consequence of the local immune response induced by a Taenia solium metacestode. In this study, a histological and immunohistochemical analysis of five brain specimens from patients with neurocysticercosis revealed a proinflammatory activity reflected by an apparently altered blood-brain barrier permeability, secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and up-regulation of molecules associated with antigen presentation. There were also anti-inflammatory cytokines, as well as an active wound-healing process reflected by angiogenesis, collagen deposition and glial scar formation. This immune response displayed by the nervous tissue adjacent to chronic neurocysticercosis lesions appeared to be contributing to the local tissue damage, and hence, may be fundamental in the pathology of NCC.