Synthesis of syndecan-1 by skeletal muscle cells is an early response to infection with Trichinella spiralis but is not essential for nurse cell development.

Trichinella spiralis creates a unique intracellular habitat in striated muscle. We report that a proteoglycan, syndecan-1, is induced early in infection yet is not essential for habitat development and exerts a modest influence on the immune response. This report is the first to address the requirement for a specific muscle protein in trichinellosis by using mice deficient in the relevant gene.