A dominant role for extracellular glutathione S-transferase from Onchocerca volvulus is the production of prostaglandin D2.

The extracellular glutathione S-transferase from the filarial parasite Onchocerca volvulus (Ov-GST1) is a glutathione-dependent prostaglandin D synthase. Ov-GST1, located in the outer hypodermal lamellae and in parts of the cuticle, produces prostaglandin D(2) directly at the parasite-host interface. Ov-GST1 therefore has the potential to participate in the modulation of the host immune response by contributing to the production of prostanoids; this supports the predominant hypothesis that parasite-derived eicosanoids influence host inflammatory and immune cells.