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Akcay G, Bahadir A, Tatar Y, Nuri Atalar M, Babur C, Taylan Ozkan A. Investigation of the effects of Toxoplasma gondii on behavioral and molecular mechanism in bradyzoite stage. Brain Res 2024; 1828:148762. [PMID: 38228258 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2024.148762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a single-celled parasite that causes a disease called toxoplasmosis. It can reach the central nervous system, but the mechanism of T. gondii disrupting the functioning of these brain regions occurs in bradyzoite stage of parasite, causing brain damage by forming tissue cysts in brain. In our study, the effects of T. gondii on locomotor activity, anxiety, learning and memory, and norepinephrine (NE), levodopa (L-DOPA), dopamine (DA) and 3,4-D-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) catecholamines in amygdala, striatum, prefrontal cortex and hippocampus regions of the brain were investigated in bradyzoite stage. Twenty male Albino mice Mus musculus, 4-5 weeks old, weighing 20-25 g, were used. T. gondii inoculated to mice intraperitonealy with 48-50-hour passages of T. gondii RH Ankara strain. For intraperitoneal inoculation of mice 5x104 tachyzoites per mouse. No inoculation was made in control group (n: 20). Locomotor activity behavior in open field test (OFT), anxious behavior in elevated plus maze (EPM), and learning behavior in novel object recognition (NOR) tests were evaluated. NE, L-DOPA, DA and DOPAC were measured by HPLC in brain tissues of amygdala, striatum, prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. A decrease was observed in the locomotor activity, anxiety and learning values of the T. gondii group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The heighten in NE and L-DOPA levels in amygdala tissue of T. gondii group compared to control group, an elevation in NE, L-DOPA, DA and DOPAC levels in striatum tissue, and an increase in levels of NE in prefrontal cortex tissue were detected in monoamine results. In hippocampus tissue, an increase was observed in DA levels, while a decrease was observed in NE, L-DOPA and DOPAC levels. In our study, it has been shown that T. gondii in bradyzoite stage reduces locomotor activity, causes learning and memory impairment, and has anxiogenic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guven Akcay
- Hitit University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biophysics, Çorum, Turkey.
| | - Anzel Bahadir
- Duzce University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biophysics, Düzce, Turkey
| | - Yakup Tatar
- TOBB University of Economics and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Nuri Atalar
- Igdir University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Iğdır, Turkey
| | - Cahit Babur
- National Parasitology Reference Laboratory, General Directorate of Health, Ministry of Health of Turkey, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Aysegul Taylan Ozkan
- TOBB ETU University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Ankara, Turkey
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Hartke J, Ceron-Noriega A, Stoldt M, Sistermans T, Kever M, Fuchs J, Butter F, Foitzik S. Long live the host! Proteomic analysis reveals possible strategies for parasitic manipulation of its social host. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:5877-5889. [PMID: 37795937 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Parasites with complex life cycles often manipulate the phenotype of their intermediate hosts to increase the probability of transmission to their definitive hosts. Infection with Anomotaenia brevis, a cestode that uses Temnothorax nylanderi ants as intermediate hosts, leads to a multiple-fold extension of host lifespan and to changes in behaviour, morphology and colouration. The mechanisms behind these changes are unknown, as is whether the increased longevity is achieved through parasite manipulation. Here, we demonstrate that the parasite releases proteins into its host with functions that might explain the observed changes. These parasitic proteins make up a substantial portion of the proteome of the hosts' haemolymph, and thioredoxin peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, two antioxidants, exhibited the highest abundances among them. The largest part of the secreted proteins could not be annotated, indicating they are either novel or severely altered during recent coevolution to function in host manipulation. We also detected shifts in the hosts' proteome with infection, in particular an overabundance of vitellogenin-like A in infected ants, a protein that regulates division of labour in Temnothorax ants, which could explain the observed behavioural changes. Our results thus suggest two different strategies that might be employed by this parasite to manipulate its host: secreting proteins with immediate influence on the host's phenotype and altering the host's translational activity. Our findings highlight the intricate molecular interplay required to influence the phenotype of a host and point to potential signalling pathways and genes involved in parasite-host communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliane Hartke
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Marah Stoldt
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Tom Sistermans
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Marion Kever
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Jenny Fuchs
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Falk Butter
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Mainz, Germany
| | - Susanne Foitzik
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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Wana MN, Watanabe M, Chiroma SM, Unyah NZ, Abdullahi SA, Nordin S, Basir R, Mohd Moklas MA, Majid RA. Toxoplasma gondii induced cognitive impairment in rats via dysregulation of dopamine receptors and indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase. Heliyon 2023; 9:e14370. [PMID: 36950587 PMCID: PMC10025920 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a parasite capable of residing in the brain of their host which influences behaviour changes due to alterations in the neurotransmitters. Consequently, dopamine receptors (DRD) and indoleamine 2, 3 dioxygenase (IDO) dysregulation facilitate the progression of behaviour changes in a host as a response to infection. This study tested the effect of neurotransmitter changes as a result of T. gondii infection on rats cognitive impairment. The T. gondii strain of type I, II and III from Malaysia were previously identified by standard procedures. Sporulated oocysts each of type I, II and III were inoculated separately into three groups of Wistar rats (n = 9) respectively. Two separate control groups received either phosphate buffered saline (PBS) or MK-801 (dizocilpine). Behaviour changes were evaluated at nine weeks post infection in a square box, elevated plus maze and gene expression level of DRD and IDO compounds. The study revealed increased fatal feline attraction, reduced anxiety, decreased DRD and increased IDO gene expression in the T. gondii infected groups and MK-801 compared to the PBS control group. In conclusion, T. gondii infection alter the level of neurotransmitters in rat which cause cognitive impairment. This implies that all the T. gondii strain can cause behaviour changes if human were infected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Nasiru Wana
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi, Nigeria
| | - Malaika Watanabe
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Samaila Musa Chiroma
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria
- Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NuMed) No 1, Jalan Sarjana 1,Kota Ilmu, EduCity@Iskandar,79200 Iskandar Puteri (formerly Nusajaya) Johor-Malaysia
| | - Ngah Zasmy Unyah
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Sharif Alhassan Abdullahi
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
| | - Shariza Nordin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Rusliza Basir
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mohamad Aris Mohd Moklas
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Corresponding author.
| | - Roslaini Abd Majid
- Department of Pre-Clinical, Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, National Defence University of Malaysia, Kem Sungai Besi, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Corresponding author.
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Carrillo GL, Su J, Cawley ML, Wei D, Gill SK, Blader IJ, Fox MA. Complement-dependent loss of inhibitory synapses on pyramidal neurons following Toxoplasma gondii infection. J Neurochem 2023:10.1111/jnc.15770. [PMID: 36683435 PMCID: PMC10363253 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii has developed mechanisms to establish a central nervous system infection in virtually all warm-blooded animals. Acute T. gondii infection can cause neuroinflammation, encephalitis, and seizures. Meanwhile, studies in humans, nonhuman primates, and rodents have linked chronic T. gondii infection with altered behavior and increased risk for neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. These observations and associations raise questions about how this parasitic infection may alter neural circuits. We previously demonstrated that T. gondii infection triggers the loss of inhibitory perisomatic synapses, a type of synapse whose dysfunction or loss has been linked to neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. We showed that phagocytic cells (including microglia and infiltrating monocytes) contribute to the loss of these inhibitory synapses. Here, we show that these phagocytic cells specifically ensheath excitatory pyramidal neurons, leading to the preferential loss of perisomatic synapses on these neurons and not those on cortical interneurons. Moreover, we show that infection induces an increased expression of the complement C3 gene, including by populations of these excitatory neurons. Infecting C3-deficient mice with T. gondii revealed that C3 is required for the loss of perisomatic inhibitory synapses. Interestingly, loss of C1q did not prevent the loss of perisomatic synapses following infection. Together, these findings provide evidence that T. gondii induces changes in excitatory pyramidal neurons that trigger the selective removal of inhibitory perisomatic synapses and provide a role for a nonclassical complement pathway in the remodeling of inhibitory circuits in the infected brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela L. Carrillo
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, Virginia, 24016, USA
- Graduate Program in Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, 24061, USA
| | - Jianmin Su
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, Virginia, 24016, USA
- School of Neuroscience, College of Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, 24061, USA
| | - Mikel L. Cawley
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, Virginia, 24016, USA
- Graduate Program in Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, 24061, USA
| | - Derek Wei
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, Virginia, 24016, USA
- School of Neuroscience, College of Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, 24061, USA
| | - Simran K. Gill
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, Virginia, 24016, USA
- Department of Psychology, Roanoke College, Salem, Virginia, 24153, USA
- NeuroSURF Program, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, Virginia, 24016, USA
| | - Ira J. Blader
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, 14203, USA
| | - Michael A. Fox
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, Virginia, 24016, USA
- School of Neuroscience, College of Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, 24061, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, 24061, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, Virginia, 24016, USA
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Bahreini MS, Sami Jahromi S, Radfar AH, Salemi AM, Dastan N, Asgari Q. The Relationship of Latent Toxoplasmosis and Cigarette Smoking: Seroprevalence, Risk Factor, and Case-Control Study in Fars Province, Southern Iran. Pathogens 2022; 11:1274. [PMID: 36365025 PMCID: PMC9696781 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11111274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease with worldwide prevalence. Despite the relatively similar effects of toxoplasmosis and smoking on alteration in neurotransmitters, especially dopamine, little is known about the relation of Toxoplasma gondii infection and addiction to cigarette smoking. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to assess the relationship between latent toxoplasmosis and smoking. Through a case-control study, 216 regular cigarette smokers and 324 nonsmoker age- and gender-matched subjects were evaluated for anti-T.gondii IgG antibodies with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). During the sampling, a structured questionnaire was used to obtain the demographic information of participants and the risk factors of acquired Toxoplasma. The median ages of case and control groups were 51.04 ± 18.1 (22-97 years) and 51.03 ± 16.5 (21-89 years), respectively (p = 0.99). Anti-T.gondii IgG antibodies were detected in 44 (20.37%) cases and in 135 (41.67%) controls. There was a statistically significant difference for the positivity rate between the smokers and the control group (OR = 0.35; 95%CI: 0.19-0.65; and p = 0.001). The overall prevalence was 33.14%. This study indicated the inverse association between seropositivity to Toxoplasma infection and cigarette smoking. This relationship could be due to the changes that latent toxoplasmosis has on the neurotransmitters, especially dopamine, which needs more research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Saleh Bahreini
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 7134845794, Iran
| | - Sareh Sami Jahromi
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 7134845794, Iran
| | - Amir Hossein Radfar
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 7134845794, Iran
| | - Amir Masoud Salemi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 7134845794, Iran
| | - Naghmeh Dastan
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 7134845794, Iran
| | - Qasem Asgari
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 7134845794, Iran
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Townsend AK, Sewall KB, Leonard AS, Hawley DM. Infectious disease and cognition in wild populations. Trends Ecol Evol 2022; 37:899-910. [PMID: 35872026 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Infectious disease is linked to impaired cognition across a breadth of host taxa and cognitive abilities, potentially contributing to variation in cognitive performance within and among populations. Impaired cognitive performance can stem from direct damage by the parasite, the host immune response, or lost opportunities for learning. Moreover, cognitive impairment could be compounded by factors that simultaneously increase infection risk and impair cognition directly, such as stress and malnutrition. As highlighted in this review, however, answers to fundamental questions remain unresolved, including the frequency, duration, and fitness consequences of infection-linked cognitive impairment in wild animal populations, the cognitive abilities most likely to be affected, and the potential for adaptive evolution of cognition in response to accelerating emergence of infectious disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea K Townsend
- Department of Biology, Hamilton College, 198 College Hill Road, Clinton, NY 13323, USA.
| | - Kendra B Sewall
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Anne S Leonard
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Dana M Hawley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
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Rees KC, Dou Z, Whitehead DC. Oxadiazon Derivatives Elicit Potent Intracellular Growth Inhibition against Toxoplasma gondii by Disrupting Heme Biosynthesis. ACS Infect Dis 2022; 8:911-917. [PMID: 35363476 PMCID: PMC9106912 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Infections of Toxoplasma gondii can cause severe and sometimes fatal diseases in immunocompromised individuals. The de novo heme biosynthesis pathway is required for intracellular growth and pathogenesis, making it an appealing therapeutic target. We synthesized a small library of derivatives of the herbicide oxadiazon, a known inhibitor of the penultimate reaction within the heme biosynthesis pathway in plants, catalyzed by protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO). Seven of the 18 analogs exhibit potent intracellular growth inhibition of wild-type T. gondii (IC50 = 1 to 2.4 μM). An assay of the compounds against Toxoplasma PPO knockout and complementation strains confirmed the mode of action to be due to the potent inhibition of PPO. The most potent compounds have no detectable cytotoxicity against human foreskin fibroblast cells up to 100 μM. This study suggests that oxadiazon derivatives may represent a new molecular scaffold for the effective treatment of T. gondii infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerrick C. Rees
- Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634, United States
| | - Zhicheng Dou
- Department of Biological Sciences and Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634, United States
| | - Daniel C. Whitehead
- Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634, United States; Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634, United States
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Yin K, Xu C, Zhao G, Xie H. Epigenetic Manipulation of Psychiatric Behavioral Disorders Induced by Toxoplasma gondii. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:803502. [PMID: 35237531 PMCID: PMC8882818 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.803502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is known to have a complex life cycle and infect almost all kinds of warm-blooded animals around the world. The brain of the host could be persistently infected by cerebral cysts, and a variety of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and suicide have been reported to be related with latent toxoplasmosis. The infected animals showed fear reduction and a tendency to be preyed upon. However, the mechanism of this “parasites manipulation” effects have not been elucidated. Here, we reviewed the recent infection prevalence of toxoplasmosis and the evidence of mental and behavioral disorders induced by T. gondii and discussed the related physiological basis including dopamine dysregulation and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) pathway and the controversial opinion of the necessity for cerebral cysts existence. Based on the recent advances, we speculated that the neuroendocrine programs and neurotransmitter imbalance may play a key role in this process. Simultaneously, studies in the evaluation of the expression pattern of related genes, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and mRNAs of the host provides a new point for understanding the mechanism of neurotransmitter dysfunction induced by parasite manipulation. Therefore, we summarized the animal models, T. gondii strains, and behavioral tests used in the related epigenetic studies and the responsible epigenetic processes; pinpointed opportunities and challenges in future research including the causality evidence of human psychiatric disorders, the statistical analysis for rodent-infected host to be more vulnerable preyed upon; and identified responsible genes and drug targets through epigenetics.
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Teimouri A, Nassrullah OJ, Hedayati P, Bahreini MS, Alimi R, Mohtasebi S, Salemi AM, Asgari Q. Prevalence and Predictors of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Psychiatric Inpatients in Fars Province, Southern Iran. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:891603. [PMID: 35774089 PMCID: PMC9237562 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.891603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychiatric patients are at increased risk of exposure to Toxoplasma gondii infection, which may be linked to their living facilities and behaviors. Limited knowledge on the prevalence of T. gondii infection and its associated risk factors in psychiatric patients are available to the international medical communities. Thus, the aim of the current study was to assess seroprevalence of T. gondii and its associated risk factors in psychiatric inpatients in Fars Province, southern Iran. METHODS This cross-sectional study was carried out on psychiatric patients hospitalized in Ibn Sina Hospital affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Fars Province, southern Iran, March to July 2021. Blood samples were collected from 318 psychiatric patients and assessed for the detection of IgG against T. gondii using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Moreover, structured questionnaires were completed for the participants at the time of sampling. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess possible associations between the latent toxoplasmosis and the variables. RESULTS The overall seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG in psychiatric inpatients was 22.3% (71/318; 95% CI = 17.9-27.3). Multivariate analyses revealed that age > 30 years [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.10-4.60, p = 0.03], contact with cats (AOR = 2.52, 95% CI = 1.14-5.58, p = 0.03), raw vegetable consumption (AOR = 3.65, 95% CI = 1.74-7.65, p = 0.001), raw/undercooked meat consumption (AOR = 4.30, 95% CI = 1.47-12.63, p = 0.008), suicide attempt (AOR = 3.77, 95% CI = 1.58-8.97, p = 0.003) and cigarette smoking history (AOR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.17-0.83, p = 0.02) were independent risk factors for T. gondii infection. CONCLUSION The current results demonstrated that contact with cats, raw vegetable consumption and raw/undercooked meat consumption were independent risk factors for T. gondii seropositivity. Moreover, the current study showed significant associations between seropositivity of T. gondii and suicide attempts as well as negative associations between seropositivity of T. gondii and cigarette smoking in psychiatric inpatients using multivariate logistic regression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aref Teimouri
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Othman Jamal Nassrullah
- Department of Clinic and Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq
| | - Pouya Hedayati
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Saleh Bahreini
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Rasoul Alimi
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran
| | - Sina Mohtasebi
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Masoud Salemi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Qasem Asgari
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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Correa Leite PE, de Araujo Portes J, Pereira MR, Russo FB, Martins-Duarte ES, Almeida Dos Santos N, Attias M, Barrantes FJ, Baleeiro Beltrão-Braga PC, de Souza W. Morphological and biochemical repercussions of Toxoplasma gondii infection in a 3D human brain neurospheres model. Brain Behav Immun Health 2021; 11:100190. [PMID: 34589727 PMCID: PMC8474451 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2020.100190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Toxoplasmosis is caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii that can infect the central nervous system (CNS), promoting neuroinflammation, neuronal loss, neurotransmitter imbalance and behavioral alterations. T. gondii infection is also related to neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. The pathogenicity and inflammatory response in rodents are different to the case of humans, compromising the correlation between the behavioral alterations and physiological modifications observed in the disease. In the present work we used BrainSpheres, a 3D CNS model derived from human pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), to investigate the morphological and biochemical repercussions of T. gondii infection in human neural cells. Methods We evaluated T. gondii ME49 strain proliferation and cyst formation in both 2D cultured human neural cells and BrainSpheres. Aspects of cell morphology, ultrastructure, viability, gene expression of neural phenotype markers, as well as secretion of inflammatory mediators were evaluated for 2 and 4 weeks post infection in BrainSpheres. Results T. gondii can infect BrainSpheres, proliferating and inducing cysts formation, neural cell death, alteration in neural gene expression and triggering the release of several inflammatory mediators. Conclusions BrainSpheres reproduce many aspects of T. gondii infection in human CNS, constituting a useful model to study the neurotoxicity and neuroinflammation mediated by the parasite. In addition, these data could be important for future studies aiming at better understanding possible correlations between psychiatric disorders and human CNS infection with T. gondii. T. gondii infects, proliferates and induce cysts formation in neurospheres. T. gondii infection induces neural cell death in neurospheres. T. gondii infection promotes alteration in neural gene expression in neurospheres. T. gondii infection promotes release of inflammatory mediators in neurospheres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo Emilio Correa Leite
- Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho and National Center for Structural Biology and Bioimaging (CENABIO), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.,Directory of Metrology Applied to Life Sciences (Dimav), National Institute of Metrology Quality and Technology (INMETRO), Duque de Caxias, RJ, Brazil
| | - Juliana de Araujo Portes
- Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho and National Center for Structural Biology and Bioimaging (CENABIO), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Fabiele Baldino Russo
- Laboratory of Disease Modeling, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Erica S Martins-Duarte
- Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho and National Center for Structural Biology and Bioimaging (CENABIO), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.,Department of Parasitology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Nathalia Almeida Dos Santos
- Laboratory of Disease Modeling, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.,Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, UK
| | - Marcia Attias
- Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho and National Center for Structural Biology and Bioimaging (CENABIO), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Francisco J Barrantes
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute for Biomedical Research (BIOMED), UCA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Patricia Cristina Baleeiro Beltrão-Braga
- Laboratory of Disease Modeling, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.,Scientific Platform Pasteur-USP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Wanderley de Souza
- Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho and National Center for Structural Biology and Bioimaging (CENABIO), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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11
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Mouveaux T, Roger E, Gueye A, Eysert F, Huot L, Grenier-Boley B, Lambert JC, Gissot M. Primary brain cell infection by Toxoplasma gondii reveals the extent and dynamics of parasite differentiation and its impact on neuron biology. Open Biol 2021; 11:210053. [PMID: 34610266 PMCID: PMC8492179 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.210053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a eukaryotic parasite that forms latent cysts in the brain of immunocompetent individuals. The latent parasite infection of the immune-privileged central nervous system is linked to most complications. With no drug currently available to eliminate the latent cysts in the brain of infected hosts, the consequences of neurons' long-term infection are unknown. It has long been known that T. gondii specifically differentiates into a latent form (bradyzoite) in neurons, but how the infected neuron responds to the infection remains to be elucidated. We have established a new in vitro model resulting in the production of mature bradyzoite cysts in brain cells. Using dual, host and parasite RNA-seq, we characterized the dynamics of differentiation of the parasite, revealing the involvement of key pathways in this process. Moreover, we identified how the infected brain cells responded to the parasite infection revealing the drastic changes that take place. We showed that neuronal-specific pathways are strongly affected, with synapse signalling being particularly affected, especially glutamatergic synapse signalling. The establishment of this new in vitro model allows investigating both the dynamics of parasite differentiation and the specific response of neurons to long-term infection by this parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Mouveaux
- U1019—UMR 9017—CIIL—Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Emmanuel Roger
- U1019—UMR 9017—CIIL—Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Alioune Gueye
- U1019—UMR 9017—CIIL—Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Fanny Eysert
- U1167, University of Lille, Inserm, Institut Pasteur de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Ludovic Huot
- U1019—UMR 9017—CIIL—Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | | | - Jean-Charles Lambert
- U1167, University of Lille, Inserm, Institut Pasteur de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Mathieu Gissot
- U1019—UMR 9017—CIIL—Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
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12
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Shinjyo N, Nakayama H, Li L, Ishimaru K, Hikosaka K, Suzuki N, Yoshida H, Norose K. Hypericum perforatum extract and hyperforin inhibit the growth of neurotropic parasite Toxoplasma gondii and infection-induced inflammatory responses of glial cells in vitro. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 267:113525. [PMID: 33129946 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 09/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Hypericum perforatum L. has been widely used as a natural antidepressant. However, it is unknown whether it is effective in treating infection-induced neuropsychiatric disorders. AIM OF THE STUDY In order to evaluate the effectiveness of H. perforatum against infection with neurotropic parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which has been linked to neuropsychiatric disorders, this study investigated the anti-Toxoplasma activity using in vitro models. MATERIALS AND METHODS Dried alcoholic extracts were prepared from three Hypericum species: H. perforatum, H. erectum, and H. ascyron. H. perforatum extract was further separated by solvent-partitioning. Hyperforin and hypericin levels in the extracts and fractions were analyzed by high resolution LC-MS. Anti-Toxoplasma activities were tested in vitro, using cell lines (Vero and Raw264), murine primary mixed glia, and primary neuron-glia. Toxoplasma proliferation and stage conversion were analyzed by qPCR. Infection-induced damages to the host cells were analyzed by Sulforhodamine B cytotoxicity assay (Vero) and immunofluorescent microscopy (neurons). Infection-induced inflammatory responses in glial cells were analysed by qPCR and immunofluorescent microscopy. RESULTS Hyperforin was identified only in H. perforatum among the three tested species, whereas hypericin was present in H. perforatum and H. erectum. H. perforatum extract and hyperforin-enriched fraction, as well as hyperforin, exhibited significant anti-Toxoplasma property as well as inhibitory activity against infection-induced inflammatory responses in glial cells. In addition, H. perforatum-derived hyperforin-enriched fraction restored neuro-supportive environment in mixed neuron-glia culture. CONCLUSIONS H. perforatum and its major constituent hyperforin are promising anti-Toxoplasma agents that could potentially protect neurons and glial cells against infection-induced damages. Further study is warranted to establish in vivo efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriko Shinjyo
- Department of Infection and Host Defense, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan; School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4, Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.
| | - Hideyuki Nakayama
- Saga Prefectural Institute of Public Health and Pharmaceutical Research, 1-20 Hacchounawate, Saga, 849-0925, Japan
| | - Li Li
- Department of Infection and Host Defense, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Kanji Ishimaru
- Department of Biological Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Saga University, 1 Honjo, Saga, 840-8502, Japan
| | - Kenji Hikosaka
- Department of Infection and Host Defense, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Suzuki
- Department of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Hiroki Yoshida
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Immunoscience, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga, 849-8501, Japan
| | - Kazumi Norose
- Department of Infection and Host Defense, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
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13
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Dissociating direct and indirect effects: a theoretical framework of how latent toxoplasmosis affects cognitive profile across the lifespan. Neurobiol Aging 2021; 102:119-128. [PMID: 33765425 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
About one-third of the world's population has latent toxoplasmosis, which is typically most prevalent in old age due to its lifelong persistence. Most infected people do not reveal clinically relevant symptoms, but T. gondii might trigger cognitive changes in otherwise asymptomatic individuals. As intact cognitive processes are essential for various achievements and successful aging, this review focuses on the cognitive profile associated with latent toxoplasmosis across the lifespan. It could be explained by a shift in balance between direct effects (increased dopamine synthesis) and indirect effects (neurodegeneration and chronic inflammation, which can decrease dopamine levels). Based thereon, we provide a possibly comprehensive framework of how T. gondii can differently affect cognitive performance across the lifespan (i.e., from increased catecholaminergic signaling in young age to decreased signaling in old age). We outline how future studies may inform our knowledge on the role of individual differences in response to T. gondii and how longitudinal studies can help trace the temporal dynamics in the shift of the balance between direct and indirect effects.
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14
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Tong WH, Pavey C, O'Handley R, Vyas A. Behavioral biology of Toxoplasma gondii infection. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:77. [PMID: 33494777 PMCID: PMC7831251 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04528-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite with a complex life cycle and a cosmopolitan host range. The asexual part of its life cycle can be perpetually sustained in a variety of intermediate hosts through a combination of carnivory and vertical transmission. However, T. gondii produces gametes only in felids after the predation of infected intermediate hosts. The parasite changes the behavior of its intermediate hosts by reducing their innate fear to cat odors and thereby plausibly increasing the probability that the definitive host will devour the infected host. Here, we provide a short description of such parasitic behavioral manipulation in laboratory rodents infected with T. gondii, along with a bird's eye view of underpinning biological changes in the host. We also summarize critical gaps and opportunities for future research in this exciting research area with broad implications in the transdisciplinary study of host-parasite relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Han Tong
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University (SBS-NTU), 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551, Singapore
| | - Chris Pavey
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Land and Water, Darwin, Australia
| | - Ryan O'Handley
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, Roseworthy, Australia
| | - Ajai Vyas
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University (SBS-NTU), 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551, Singapore.
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15
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Stoldt M, Klein L, Beros S, Butter F, Jongepier E, Feldmeyer B, Foitzik S. Parasite Presence Induces Gene Expression Changes in an Ant Host Related to Immunity and Longevity. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:95. [PMID: 33451085 PMCID: PMC7828512 DOI: 10.3390/genes12010095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Most species are either parasites or exploited by parasites, making parasite-host interactions a driver of evolution. Parasites with complex life cycles often evolve strategies to facilitate transmission to the definitive host by manipulating their intermediate host. Such manipulations could explain phenotypic changes in the ant Temnothorax nylanderi, the intermediate host of the cestode Anomotaenia brevis. In addition to behavioral and morphological alterations, infected workers exhibit prolonged lifespans, comparable to that of queens, which live up to two decades. We used transcriptomic data from cestodes and ants of different castes and infection status to investigate the molecular underpinnings of phenotypic alterations in infected workers and explored whether the extended lifespan of queens and infected workers has a common molecular basis. Infected workers and queens commonly upregulated only six genes, one of them with a known anti-aging function. Both groups overexpressed immune genes, although not the same ones. Our findings suggest that the lifespan extension of infected workers is not achieved via the expression of queen-specific genes. The analysis of the cestodes' transcriptome revealed dominant expression of genes of the mitochondrial respiratory transport chain, which indicates an active metabolism and shedding light on the physiology of the parasite in its cysticercoid stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marah Stoldt
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany; (L.K.); (S.F.)
| | - Linda Klein
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany; (L.K.); (S.F.)
| | - Sara Beros
- Max Planck Institute for the Biology of Ageing, 50931 Cologne, Germany;
| | - Falk Butter
- Institute for Molecular Biology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany;
| | - Evelien Jongepier
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany;
| | - Barbara Feldmeyer
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Center (SBiK-F), Molecular Ecology, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany;
| | - Susanne Foitzik
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany; (L.K.); (S.F.)
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16
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Postolache TT, Wadhawan A, Rujescu D, Hoisington AJ, Dagdag A, Baca-Garcia E, Lowry CA, Okusaga OO, Brenner LA. Toxoplasma gondii, Suicidal Behavior, and Intermediate Phenotypes for Suicidal Behavior. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:665682. [PMID: 34177652 PMCID: PMC8226025 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.665682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Within the general literature on infections and suicidal behavior, studies on Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) occupy a central position. This is related to the parasite's neurotropism, high prevalence of chronic infection, as well as specific and non-specific behavioral alterations in rodents that lead to increased risk taking, which are recapitulated in humans by T. gondii's associations with suicidal behavior, as well as trait impulsivity and aggression, mental illness and traffic accidents. This paper is a detailed review of the associations between T. gondii serology and suicidal behavior, a field of study that started 15 years ago with our publication of associations between T. gondii IgG serology and suicidal behavior in persons with mood disorders. This "legacy" article presents, chronologically, our primary studies in individuals with mood disorders and schizophrenia in Germany, recent attempters in Sweden, and in a large cohort of mothers in Denmark. Then, it reviews findings from all three meta-analyses published to date, confirming our reported associations and overall consistent in effect size [ranging between 39 and 57% elevation of odds of suicide attempt in T. gondii immunoglobulin (IgG) positives]. Finally, the article introduces certain links between T. gondii and biomarkers previously associated with suicidal behavior (kynurenines, phenylalanine/tyrosine), intermediate phenotypes of suicidal behavior (impulsivity, aggression) and state-dependent suicide risk factors (hopelessness/dysphoria, sleep impairment). In sum, an abundance of evidence supports a positive link between suicide attempts (but not suicidal ideation) and T. gondii IgG (but not IgM) seropositivity and serointensity. Trait impulsivity and aggression, endophenotypes of suicidal behavior have also been positively associated with T. gondii seropositivity in both the psychiatrically healthy as well as in patients with Intermittent Explosive Disorder. Yet, causality has not been demonstrated. Thus, randomized interventional studies are necessary to advance causal inferences and, if causality is confirmed, to provide hope that an etiological treatment for a distinct subgroup of individuals at an increased risk for suicide could emerge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teodor T Postolache
- Department of Psychiatry, Mood and Anxiety Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Veterans Health Administration, Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Military and Veteran Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Aurora, CO, United States.,Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 5, VA Capitol Health Care Network, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Abhishek Wadhawan
- Department of Psychiatry, Mood and Anxiety Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, Saint Elizabeth's Hospital, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Dan Rujescu
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University of Halle, Halle, Germany
| | - Andrew J Hoisington
- Veterans Health Administration, Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Military and Veteran Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Aurora, CO, United States.,Department of Systems Engineering and Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, Dayton, OH, United States.,Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Aline Dagdag
- Department of Psychiatry, Mood and Anxiety Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Enrique Baca-Garcia
- Department of Psychiatry, Jimenez Diaz Foundation Hospital, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry, Madrid Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry, Rey Juan Carlos University Hospital, Móstoles, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry, General Hospital of Villalba, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry, Infanta Elena University Hospital, Valdemoro, Spain.,Universidad Catolica del Maule, Talca, Chile.,Department of Psychiatry, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nîmes, Nîmes, France
| | - Christopher A Lowry
- Veterans Health Administration, Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Military and Veteran Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Aurora, CO, United States.,Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States.,Department of Integrative Physiology, Center for Neuroscience, Center for Microbial Exploration, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Olaoluwa O Okusaga
- Department of Psychiatry, Mood and Anxiety Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States.,Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Lisa A Brenner
- Veterans Health Administration, Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Military and Veteran Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Aurora, CO, United States.,Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States.,Department of Psychiatry & Neurology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
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17
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Steffen HM. Wie beeinflussen Parasiten das Verhalten ihres Wirts? Die parasitäre Manipulationshypothese. Dtsch Med Wochenschr 2020; 145:1848-1854. [DOI: 10.1055/a-1220-8737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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18
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Carrillo GL, Ballard VA, Glausen T, Boone Z, Teamer J, Hinkson CL, Wohlfert EA, Blader IJ, Fox MA. Toxoplasma infection induces microglia-neuron contact and the loss of perisomatic inhibitory synapses. Glia 2020; 68:1968-1986. [PMID: 32157745 PMCID: PMC7423646 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Infection and inflammation within the brain induces changes in neuronal connectivity and function. The intracellular protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, is one pathogen that infects the brain and can cause encephalitis and seizures. Persistent infection by this parasite is also associated with behavioral alterations and an increased risk for developing psychiatric illness, including schizophrenia. Current evidence from studies in humans and mouse models suggest that both seizures and schizophrenia result from a loss or dysfunction of inhibitory synapses. In line with this, we recently reported that persistent T. gondii infection alters the distribution of glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 (GAD67), an enzyme that catalyzes GABA synthesis in inhibitory synapses. These changes could reflect a redistribution of presynaptic machinery in inhibitory neurons or a loss of inhibitory nerve terminals. To directly assess the latter possibility, we employed serial block face scanning electron microscopy (SBFSEM) and quantified inhibitory perisomatic synapses in neocortex and hippocampus following parasitic infection. Not only did persistent infection lead to a significant loss of perisomatic synapses, it induced the ensheathment of neuronal somata by myeloid-derived cells. Immunohistochemical, genetic, and ultrastructural analyses revealed that these myeloid-derived cells included activated microglia. Finally, ultrastructural analysis identified myeloid-derived cells enveloping perisomatic nerve terminals, suggesting they may actively displace or phagocytose synaptic elements. Thus, these results suggest that activated microglia contribute to perisomatic inhibitory synapse loss following parasitic infection and offer a novel mechanism as to how persistent T. gondii infection may contribute to both seizures and psychiatric illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela L. Carrillo
- Center for Neurobiology Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, 2 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, VA 24016
- Graduate Program in Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061
| | - Valerie A. Ballard
- Center for Neurobiology Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, 2 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, VA 24016
- Roanoke Valley Governor’s School, Roanoke VA 24015
| | - Taylor Glausen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo NY 14260
| | - Zack Boone
- Center for Neurobiology Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, 2 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, VA 24016
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061
| | - Joseph Teamer
- Center for Neurobiology Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, 2 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, VA 24016
- FBRI neuroSURF Program, Roanoke, VA 24016
| | - Cyrus L. Hinkson
- Center for Neurobiology Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, 2 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, VA 24016
- Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA 24016
| | | | - Ira J. Blader
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo NY 14260
| | - Michael A. Fox
- Center for Neurobiology Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, 2 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, VA 24016
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061
- Department of Pediatrics, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA 24016
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19
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Yang Z, Wang M, Zeng X, Wan ATY, Tsui SKW. In silico analysis of proteins and microRNAs related to human African trypanosomiasis in tsetse fly. Comput Biol Chem 2020; 88:107347. [PMID: 32745971 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2020.107347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2019] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as sleeping sickness, causes millions of deaths worldwide. HAT is primarily transmitted by the vector tsetse fly (Glossina morsitans). Early diagnosis remains a key objective for treating this disease. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are evolutionarily conserved small non-coding RNAs that play key roles in vector-borne diseases. To date, the roles of proteins and miRNAs in HAT disease have not been thoroughly elucidated. In this study, we have re-annotated the function of protein-coding genes and identified several miRNAs based on a series of bioinformatics tools. A batch of 81.1 % of tsetse fly proteins could be determined homology in mosquito genome, suggesting their probable similar mechanisms in vector-borne diseases. A set of 11 novel salivary proteins and 14 midgut proteins were observed in the tsetse fly, which could be applied to the development of vaccine candidates for the control of HAT disease. In addition, 35 novel miRNAs were identified, among which 10 miRNAs were found to be unique in tsetse fly. Pathway analysis of these 10 miRNAs indicated that targets of miR-15a-5p were significantly enriched in the HAT-related neurotrophin signaling pathway. Besides, topological analysis of the miRNA-gene network indicated that miR-619-5p and miR-2490-3p targeted several genes that respond to trypanosome infection, including thioester-containing protein Tep1 and heat shock protein Hsp60a. In conclusion, our work helps to elucidate the function of miRNAs in tsetse fly and establishes a foundation for further investigations into the molecular regulatory mechanisms of HAT disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyuan Yang
- School of Artificial Intelligence, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, PR China; School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
| | - Mingqiang Wang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Hong Kong Bioinformatics Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Xi Zeng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Hong Kong Bioinformatics Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Angel Tsz-Yau Wan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Hong Kong Bioinformatics Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Stephen Kwok-Wing Tsui
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Hong Kong Bioinformatics Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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20
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Fernandes SM, Dias AR, Miranda-Scippa Â. Association between exposure to toxoplasmosis and major psychiatric disorders: a systematic review. BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY 2020; 43:438-445. [PMID: 32965430 PMCID: PMC8352736 DOI: 10.1590/1516-4446-2020-0904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Objective: To assess the association between exposure to toxoplasmosis and major psychiatric disorders through a systematic review of the literature. Methods: The literature review was performed in the MEDLINE, SciELO, and PsycINFO databases. To evaluate the quality of the studies included in the review, the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used. Results: Thirty-one studies were included, and the majority found an association between exposure to toxoplasmosis and schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (58.3 and 54.5% of the included papers, respectively), but not major depressive disorder. We found no significant difference in mean quality scores between studies that corroborated and contradicted the association hypothesis for either schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. All included papers were considered at least satisfactory according to the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (total scores ≥ 6 out of 9). Conclusion: Although there was no association between exposure to toxoplasmosis and major depressive disorder, the results indicate an association with both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, despite their heterogeneity. Further studies should be performed with more specific variables so that the nature of these relationships can be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago M Fernandes
- Faculdade de Medicina da Bahia, Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, BA, Brazil.,Centro de Estudos de Transtornos de Humor e Ansiedade (CETHA), Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgard Santos, UFBA, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Alan R Dias
- Faculdade de Medicina da Bahia, Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, BA, Brazil.,Centro de Estudos de Transtornos de Humor e Ansiedade (CETHA), Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgard Santos, UFBA, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Ângela Miranda-Scippa
- Centro de Estudos de Transtornos de Humor e Ansiedade (CETHA), Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgard Santos, UFBA, Salvador, BA, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina e Saúde, UFBA, Salvador, BA, Brazil.,Departamento de Neurociências e Saúde Mental, Faculdade de Medicina da Bahia, UFBA, Salvador, BA, Brazil
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21
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Abo-Al-Ela HG. Toxoplasmosis and Psychiatric and Neurological Disorders: A Step toward Understanding Parasite Pathogenesis. ACS Chem Neurosci 2020; 11:2393-2406. [PMID: 31268676 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis, a disease that disrupts fetal brain development and severely affects the host's brain, has been linked to many behavioral and neurological disorders. There is growing interest in how a single-celled neurotropic parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, can control or change the behavior of the host as well as how it dominates the host's neurons. Secrets beyond these could be answered by decoding the Toxoplasma gondii genome, unravelling the function of genomic sequences, and exploring epigenetics and mRNAs alterations, as well as the postulated mechanisms contributing to various neurological and psychiatric symptoms caused by this parasite. Substantial efforts have been made to elucidate the action of T. gondii on host immunity and the biology of its infection. However, the available studies on the molecular aspects of toxoplasmosis that affect central nervous system (CNS) circuits remain limited, and much research is still needed on this interesting topic. In my opinion, this parasite is a gift for studying the biology of the nervous system and related diseases. We should utilize the unique features of Toxoplasma, such as its abilities to modulate brain physiology, for neurological studies or as a possible tool or approach to cure neurological disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haitham G. Abo-Al-Ela
- Animal Health Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Shibin Al-Kom, El-Minufiya 7001, Egypt
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22
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Chronic toxoplasmosis and sleepiness in obstructive sleep apnea: Is there a link? PLoS One 2020; 15:e0235463. [PMID: 32609758 PMCID: PMC7329112 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sleepiness is the main clinical expression of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome resulting from upper airway collapse. Recent studies have discussed the fact that the presence of T. gondii cysts in the brain and the resulting biochemical and immunological mechanisms could be linked to neurobehavioral disorders. The aim of the present study was to explore the potential impact of chronic toxoplasmosis on sleepiness and on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity in OSA obese patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS A case control study on obese patients screened for OSA was performed. According to the sleep disorder and matched based on gender, age and body mass index (BMI), two groups of obese patients were selected from our sample collection database. All patients were tested for toxoplasmosis serological status measuring anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM levels. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were performed to assess the impact of chronic toxoplasmosis on sleepiness and OSA severity. RESULTS 107 obese patients suffering from OSA were included in the study (median age: 53.3 years Interquartile range (IQR): [41.9-59.9]; median BMI: 39.4 kg/m2 IQR: [35.5-44.1], apnea-hypopnea index = 27.5 events/h [10.7-49.9]). Chronic toxoplasmosis was present in 63.4% and 70.7% of patients with or without sleepiness (p = 0.48), respectively and was not associated either to sleepiness (OR: 0.76, 95% CI: [0.52; 2.33], p = 0.64) or OSA severity (OR = 1.75, 95% CI: [0.51; 5.98] p = 0.37). CONCLUSION Although chronic Toxoplasma infection in immunocompetent humans has been associated to several behavioral disorders or pathologies in recent literature, we demonstrate here that chronic toxoplasmosis is not associated to sleepiness and to sleep apnea syndrome severity in obese patients suspected of sleep apnea syndrome.
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Ortiz-Guerrero G, Gonzalez-Reyes RE, de-la-Torre A, Medina-Rincón G, Nava-Mesa MO. Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Cognitive Impairment and Neurodegeneration by Toxoplasma gondii Infection. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10060369. [PMID: 32545619 PMCID: PMC7349234 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10060369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite considered one of the most successful pathogens in the world, owing to its ability to produce long-lasting infections and to persist in the central nervous system (CNS) in most warm-blooded animals, including humans. This parasite has a preference to invade neurons and affect the functioning of glial cells. This could lead to neurological and behavioral changes associated with cognitive impairment. Although several studies in humans and animal models have reported controversial results about the relationship between toxoplasmosis and the onset of dementia as a causal factor, two recent meta-analyses have shown a relative association with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD is characterized by amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide accumulation, neurofibrillary tangles, and neuroinflammation. Different authors have found that toxoplasmosis may affect Aβ production in brain areas linked with memory functioning, and can induce a central immune response and neurotransmitter imbalance, which in turn, affect the nervous system microenvironment. In contrast, other studies have revealed a reduction of Aβ plaques and hyperphosphorylated tau protein formation in animal models, which might cause some protective effects. The aim of this article is to summarize and review the newest data in regard to different pathophysiological mechanisms of cerebral toxoplasmosis and their relationship with the development of AD and cognitive impairment. All these associations should be investigated further through clinical and experimental studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Ortiz-Guerrero
- Department of Neurology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA;
| | - Rodrigo E. Gonzalez-Reyes
- GI en Neurociencias-NeURos, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 111221, Colombia; (R.E.G.-R.); (A.d.-l.-T.); (G.M.-R.)
| | - Alejandra de-la-Torre
- GI en Neurociencias-NeURos, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 111221, Colombia; (R.E.G.-R.); (A.d.-l.-T.); (G.M.-R.)
| | - German Medina-Rincón
- GI en Neurociencias-NeURos, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 111221, Colombia; (R.E.G.-R.); (A.d.-l.-T.); (G.M.-R.)
| | - Mauricio O. Nava-Mesa
- GI en Neurociencias-NeURos, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 111221, Colombia; (R.E.G.-R.); (A.d.-l.-T.); (G.M.-R.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +57-1-2970200 (ext. 3354); Fax: +571-3440351
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The Cataleptic, Asymmetric, Analgesic, and Brain Biochemical Effects of Parkinson's Disease Can Be Affected by Toxoplasma gondii Infection. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 2020:2546365. [PMID: 32461971 PMCID: PMC7222602 DOI: 10.1155/2020/2546365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Purpose Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with progressive motor defects. Therefore, the aim of the present investigation was to examine whether catalepsy, asymmetry, and nociceptive behaviors; the Nissl-body and neuron distribution; brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF); malondialdehyde (MDA); total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels; and the percentage of dopamine depletion of striatal neurons in the rat model of Parkinson's disease (PD) can be affected by Toxoplasma gondii (TG) infection. Methods Fifty rats were divided into five groups: control (intact rats), sham (rats which received an intrastriatal injection of artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF)), PD control (induction of PD without TG infection), TG control (rats infected by TG without PD induction), and PD infected (third week after PD induction, infection by TG was done). PD was induced by the unilateral intrastriatal microinjection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) and ELISA quantified dopamine, BDNF, MDA, and TAC in the striatum tissue. Cataleptic, asymmetrical, nociceptive, and histological alterations were determined by bar test, elevated body swing test, formalin test, and Nissl-body and neuron counting in the striatal neurons. Results The results demonstrated that PD could significantly increase the number of biased swings, descent latency time, and nociceptive behavior and decrease the distribution of Nissl-stained neurons compared to the control and sham groups. TG infection significantly improved biased swing, descent latency time, nociceptive behavior, and the Nissl-body distribution in striatal neurons in comparison to the PD control group. The striatal level of BDNF in the PD-infected and TG control groups significantly increased relative to the PD control group. The striatal MDA was significantly higher in the PD control than other groups, while striatal TAC was significantly lower in the PD control than other groups. Conclusions The current study indicates that TG infection could improve the cataleptic, asymmetric, nociceptive and behaviors; the level of striatal dopamine release; BDNF levels; TAC; and MDA in PD rats.
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Identification of Toxoplasma Gondii Tyrosine Hydroxylase (TH) Activity and Molecular Immunoprotection against Toxoplasmosis. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8020158. [PMID: 32244791 PMCID: PMC7349186 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8020158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 03/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The neurotropic parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection can change the behavior of rodents and cause neuropsychological symptoms in humans, which may be related to the change in neurotransmitter dopamine in the host brain caused by T. gondii infection. T. gondii tyrosine hydroxylase (TgTH) is an important factor in increasing the neurotransmitter dopamine in the host brain. In this study, the enzyme activity of TgTH catalytic substrate for dopamine production and the molecular characteristics of TgTH were identified. In order to amplify the open reading frame (ORF), the designing of the specific primers for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was on the basis of the TgTH sequence (GenBank Accession No. EU481510.1), which was inserted into pET-32a (+) for the expression of recombined TgTH (rTgTH). The sequence analysis indicated that the gene of TgTH directed the encoding of a 62.4-kDa protein consisting of 565 amino acid residues, which was predicted to have a high antigen index. The enzyme activity test showed that rTgTH and the soluble proteins extracted separately from T. gondii RH strain and PRU strain could catalyze the substrate to produce dopamine in a dose-dependent manner, and the optimum catalytic temperature was 37 °C. The result of the Western Blotting assay revealed that the rTgTH and the native TgTH extracted from somatic of T. gondii RH tachyzoite were successfully detected by the sera of mice infected with T. gondii and the rat serum after rTgTH immune, respectively. Immunofluorescence analysis using antibody against rTgTH demonstrated that the protein was expressed and located on the surface of T. gondii RH tachyzoite. Freund’s adjuvant was used to emulsify the rTgTH, which was subsequently applied to BALB/c mouse immune thrice on week 0, week 2, and week 4, respectively. The result of the animal challenge experiments showed an integral increase in IgG, IgG2a, IgG1, and IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL17 were as well significantly increased, and that the rTgTH vaccinated animals apparently had a prolonged survival time (14.30 ± 2.41) after infection with the RH strain of T. gondii compared with that of the non-vaccinated control animals, which died within 11 days. Additionally, in the rTgTH vaccination group, the number of brain cysts (1275 ± 224) significantly decreased (p < 0.05) compared to the blank control group (2375 ± 883), and the size of the brain cysts in the animals immunized with rTgTH vaccination was remarkably smaller than that of the control mice. All the findings prove that TgTH played an important role in increasing the neurotransmitter dopamine in the host brain and could be used as a vaccine candidate antigen to mediate cell-mediated and humoral immunity.
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Barbosa JL, Béla SR, Ricci MF, Noviello MDLM, Cartelle CT, Pinheiro BV, Vitor RWDA, Arantes RME. Spontaneous T. gondii neuronal encystment induces structural neuritic network impairment associated with changes of tyrosine hydroxilase expression. Neurosci Lett 2019; 718:134721. [PMID: 31891758 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2019.134721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Two billion people are chronically infected with Toxoplasma gondii worldwide with unknown consequences. Important neurological diseases have been associated to the brain infection, making essential to understand the neurophysiological changes associated with the neuronal encystment. T. gondii may subvert neuronal functions modifying neurotransmitter concentration in chronically infected mice but the molecular mechanisms involved are still unclear. Parasites were observed inside neuronal cells in cultures from 24-192 hs. The rate of infection increased with time. Neurite density decreased affecting network functionality. Neuronal survival was affected and we detected the presence of cysts inside neuronal bodies and dilated portions of neurites in association with a relative increase of TH-positive neuritic area without noticeable changes in DA immunofluorescence pattern. These results advance our knowledge of the interaction between T. gondii and the neuronal network of the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Lobato Barbosa
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Samantha Ribeiro Béla
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Department of Biological Science, Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Mayra Fernanda Ricci
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Christiane Teixeira Cartelle
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Breno Veloso Pinheiro
- Departament of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Wagner de Almeida Vitor
- Departament of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Rosa Maria Esteves Arantes
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Elmorsy E, Mahmoud EHM, Rakha SA, Shoaib M. An association between latent toxoplasmosis and substance abuse: an Egyptian Center Study. J Addict Dis 2019; 37:165-172. [PMID: 31328700 DOI: 10.1080/10550887.2019.1641378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Infection of toxoplasma gondii (TG), an intracellular neurotropic parasitic protozoon, has been associated with various neuropsychiatric disorders. TG is usually diagnosed from serological sample in which a positive test for Anti-TG immunoglobulin G (IgG) indicates TG infection (toxoplasmosis). The research was conducted to test the hypothesis that TG infection may be associated with substance abuse. Anti-TG (IgG) was screened in 444 participants (350 abusers and 94 controls) who attended the Psychiatry Department of Mansoura University Hospitals. All participants were screened for different class of abused substances (tramadol, cannabis, opiates, barbiturates and benzodiazepines) using enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique and positive cases were confirmed using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Substance users were also diagnosed according to DSM IV criteria. GC-MS assays revealed that 116 cases (33.1% of users) had documented use of more than one substance. Tramadol was the most common abused substance [86 cases (24.6%)]. About 56% of the participants were sero-positive for anti-TG IgG. Toxoplasmosis sero-positivity was significantly higher among substance abusers (P < 0.0001) irrespective of the class of substance used. There was a significant relationship between toxoplasma sero-positivity and occurrence of convulsions among tramadol users (P = 0.0007) and those relapsing (P < 0.0001) following short periods of abstinence. The data collected suggest that TG infection is significantly associated with the high incidence of substance use, irrespective of the drug class. These preliminary findings warrant further larger multicenter clinical studies to test the robustness of this association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekramy Elmorsy
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt
| | | | - Shirien A Rakha
- Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt
| | - Mohammed Shoaib
- Institute of Neuroscience, Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
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Stepanova EV, Kondrashin AV, Sergiev VP, Morozova LF, Turbabina NA, Maksimova MS, Romanov DV, Kinkulkina MA, Lazareva AV, Morozov EN. Toxoplasmosis and mental disorders in the Russian Federation (with special reference to schizophrenia). PLoS One 2019; 14:e0219454. [PMID: 31291336 PMCID: PMC6636601 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The association of latent toxoplasmosis with mental disorders in general and with schizophrenia in particular was noticed in the mid-1950s. In subsequent years, the role of Toxoplasma gondii was established based on its ability to survive for long periods of time in the nerve cells of the brain. The acute manifestations of the infection include psychopathic symptoms resembling those of schizophrenia. In the former USSR, and in other parts of the world, a number of studies were performed with respect to the association of latent toxoplasmosis and schizophrenia. However, with the dissolution of the USSR at the beginning of the 1990s, studies on the subject were halted due to financial problems and have resumed only recently. The reasons for the resumption of such studies in contemporary Russia are related to the progressively increasing incidence of schizophrenia over the last 25-30 years in the country. According to official data, approximately 550 000 persons reported suffering from the disease in 2014. There are reasons to believe that this is only a fraction of the real burden of the disease. Economically, it cost the state no less than approximately US $10 billion. The purpose of the study was to identify the level of toxoplasmosis seroprevalence in patients with verified diagnoses of schizophrenia in comparison to healthy people in Moscow City and in the Moscow region. A total of 155 persons constituted the patients group and 152 healthy people were in the control group. An integrated approach to the diagnosis and comparison of data from the entire spectrum of serological markers of infection was used, including the detection of specific IgM and the determination of IgG concentrations. It was found that among persons with neuropsychiatric disorders, the incidence of cases with latent toxoplasmosis was higher than in the control group. The effect of toxoplasmosis was significant and similar for men and women. Further statistical analyses revealed that among patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, the incidence of latent toxoplasmosis was significantly higher than in the control group. These data are in agreement with the results of similar studies in other countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina V. Stepanova
- Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector-Borne
Diseases, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russian
Federation
| | - Anatoly V. Kondrashin
- Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector-Borne
Diseases, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russian
Federation
| | - Vladimir P. Sergiev
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitic Diseases, I.M. Sechenov
First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russian
Federation
| | - Lola F. Morozova
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitic Diseases, I.M. Sechenov
First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russian
Federation
| | - Natalia A. Turbabina
- Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector-Borne
Diseases, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russian
Federation
| | - Maria S. Maksimova
- Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector-Borne
Diseases, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russian
Federation
| | - Dmitry V. Romanov
- Department of Psychiatry & Psychosomatics, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow
State Medical University, Moscow, Russian Federation
- Mental Health Research Center, Moscow, Russian
Federation
| | - Marina A. Kinkulkina
- Department of Psychiatry & Substance Addiction, I.M. Sechenov First
Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Alena V. Lazareva
- Department of Psychiatry & Substance Addiction, I.M. Sechenov First
Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Evgeny N. Morozov
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitic Diseases, I.M. Sechenov
First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russian
Federation
- Department of Tropical, Parasitic Diseases and Disinfectology, Russian
Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Moscow, Russian
Federation
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Burgdorf KS, Trabjerg BB, Pedersen MG, Nissen J, Banasik K, Pedersen OB, Sørensen E, Nielsen KR, Larsen MH, Erikstrup C, Bruun-Rasmussen P, Westergaard D, Thørner LW, Hjalgrim H, Paarup HM, Brunak S, Pedersen CB, Torrey EF, Werge T, Mortensen PB, Yolken RH, Ullum H. Large-scale study of Toxoplasma and Cytomegalovirus shows an association between infection and serious psychiatric disorders. Brain Behav Immun 2019; 79:152-158. [PMID: 30685531 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Common infectious pathogens have been associated with psychiatric disorders, self-violence and risk-taking behavior. METHODS This case-control study reviews register data on 81,912 individuals from the Danish Blood Donor Study to identify individuals who have a psychiatric diagnosis (N = 2591), have attempted or committed suicide (N = 655), or have had traffic accidents (N = 2724). For all cases, controls were frequency matched by age and sex, resulting in 11,546 participants. Plasma samples were analyzed for immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii and cytomegalovirus (CMV). RESULTS T. gondii was detected in 25·9% of the population and was associated with schizophrenia (odds ratio [OR], 1·47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1·03-2·09). Accounting for temporality, with pathogen exposure preceding outcome, the association was even stronger (IRR, 2·78; 95% CI, 1·27-6·09). A very weak association between traffic accident and toxoplasmosis (OR, 1·11; 95% CI, 1·00-1·23, p = 0.054) was found. CMV was detected in 60·8% of the studied population and was associated with any psychiatric disorder (OR, 1·17; 95% CI, 1·06-1·29), but also with a smaller group of neurotic, stress-related, and somatoform disorders (OR, 1·27; 95% CI, 1·12-1·44), and with attempting or committing suicide (OR, 1·31; 95% CI, 1·10-1·56). Accounting for temporality, any psychiatric disorder (IRR, 1·37; 95% CI, 1·08-1·74) and mood disorders (IRR, 1·43; 95% CI, 1·01-2·04) were associated with exposure to CMV. No association between traffic accident and CMV (OR, 1·06; 95% CI, 0·97-1·17) was found. CONCLUSIONS This large-scale serological study is the first study to examine temporality of pathogen exposure and to provide evidence of a causal relationship between T. gondii and schizophrenia, and between CMV and any psychiatric disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Betina B Trabjerg
- National Centre for Register-Based Research, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Denmark
| | - Marianne Giørtz Pedersen
- National Centre for Register-Based Research, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Denmark; Centre for Integrated Register-based Research, CIRRAU, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Janna Nissen
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Karina Banasik
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Erik Sørensen
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kaspar René Nielsen
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Margit Hørup Larsen
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christian Erikstrup
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Peter Bruun-Rasmussen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - David Westergaard
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lise Wegner Thørner
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henrik Hjalgrim
- Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark,; Department of Hematology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Søren Brunak
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Carsten B Pedersen
- National Centre for Register-Based Research, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Denmark; Centre for Integrated Register-based Research, CIRRAU, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Thomas Werge
- The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Denmark; Institute of Biological Psychiatry, Mental Health Centre Sct. Hans, Copenhagen University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Preben Bo Mortensen
- National Centre for Register-Based Research, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Denmark; Centre for Integrated Register-based Research, CIRRAU, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Robert H Yolken
- Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology, Stanley Neurovirology Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University, USA
| | - Henrik Ullum
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Labrie V, Brundin L. Harbingers of Mental Disease-Infections Associated With an Increased Risk for Neuropsychiatric Illness in Children. JAMA Psychiatry 2019; 76:237-238. [PMID: 30516817 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.3333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Viviane Labrie
- Center for Neurodegenerative Sciences, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Lena Brundin
- Center for Neurodegenerative Sciences, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan
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The Association between Toxoplasma gondii Infection and Risk of Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 2019:8186017. [PMID: 30931331 PMCID: PMC6413381 DOI: 10.1155/2019/8186017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 01/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Background Several studies have investigated the association between Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection and risk of Parkinson's disease (PD) with inconsistent results. Clarifying this relation might be useful for better understanding of the risk factors and the relevant mechanisms of PD, thus a meta-analysis was conducted to explore whether exposure to T. gondii is associated with an increased risk of PD. Methods We conducted this meta-analysis according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. A rigorous literature selection was performed by using the databases of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and ScienceDirect. Odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidential interval (CI) were pooled by using fixed-effects models. Sensitivity analysis, publication bias test, and methodological quality assessment of studies were also performed. Results Seven studies involving 1086 subjects were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled data by using fixed-effects models suggested both latent infection (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.86 to 1.58; P=0.314) and acute infection (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.30 to 4.35; P=0.855) were not associated with PD risk. Stable and robust estimates were confirmed by sensitivity analysis. No publication bias was found by visual inspection of the funnel plot, Begg's, and Egger's test. Conclusions This meta-analysis does not support any possible association between T. gondii infection and risk of PD. Researches are still warranted to further explore the underlying mechanisms of T. gondii in the pathogenesis of PD and their causal relationship.
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Vassiliou AG, Siaterli MZ, Frakolaki E, Gkogkosi P, Paspaltsis I, Sklaviadis T, Vassilacopoulou D, Vassilaki N. L-Dopa decarboxylase interaction with the major signaling regulator ΡΙ3Κ in tissues and cells of neural and peripheral origin. Biochimie 2019; 160:76-87. [PMID: 30796964 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2019.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 02/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
L-Dopa decarboxylase (DDC) catalyzes the decarboxylation of L-Dopa to dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) to serotonin. Although DDC has been purified from a variety of peripheral organs, including the liver, kidney and pancreas, the physiological significance of the peripherally expressed enzyme is not yet fully understood. DDC has been considered as a potential novel biomarker for various types of cancer, however, the role of DDC in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains to be evaluated. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), on the other hand, has been shown to play a key role in the tumorigenesis, proliferation, metastasis, apoptosis, and angiogenesis of HCC by regulating gene expression. We initially identified the interaction of DDC with PI3K by means of the phage display methodology. This association was further confirmed in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines, human embryonic kidney cells, human neuroblastoma cells, as well as mouse brain, by the use of specific antibodies raised against DDC and PI3K. Functional aspects of the above interaction were studied upon treatment with the DDC inhibitor carbidopa and the PI3K inhibitor LY294002. Interestingly, our data demonstrate the expression of the neuronal type DDC mRNA in HCC cells. The present investigation provides new evidence on the possible link of DDC with the PI3K pathway, underlining the biological significance of this complex enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice G Vassiliou
- 1st Department of Critical Care Medicine & Pulmonary Services, GP Livanos and M Simou Laboratories, Evangelismos Hospital, Athens Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Ipsilantou 45-47, 10676, Athens, Greece; Section of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou, 15701, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria-Zacharenia Siaterli
- Section of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou, 15701, Athens, Greece
| | - Efseveia Frakolaki
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 127 Vas. Sofias ave., 11521, Athens, Greece
| | - Panayiota Gkogkosi
- Section of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou, 15701, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Paspaltsis
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Theodoros Sklaviadis
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Dido Vassilacopoulou
- Section of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou, 15701, Athens, Greece.
| | - Niki Vassilaki
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 127 Vas. Sofias ave., 11521, Athens, Greece.
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Alsaady I, Tedford E, Alsaad M, Bristow G, Kohli S, Murray M, Reeves M, Vijayabaskar MS, Clapcote SJ, Wastling J, McConkey GA. Downregulation of the Central Noradrenergic System by Toxoplasma gondii Infection. Infect Immun 2019; 87:e00789-18. [PMID: 30510101 PMCID: PMC6346129 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00789-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is associated with physiological effects in the host. Dysregulation of catecholamines in the central nervous system has previously been observed in chronically infected animals. In the study described here, the noradrenergic system was found to be suppressed with decreased levels of norepinephrine (NE) in brains of infected animals and in infected human and rat neural cells in vitro The mechanism responsible for the NE suppression was found to be downregulation of dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH) gene expression, encoding the enzyme that synthesizes norepinephrine from dopamine, with downregulation observed in vitro and in infected brain tissue, particularly in the dorsal locus coeruleus/pons region. The downregulation was sex specific, with males expressing reduced DBH mRNA levels whereas females were unchanged. Rather, DBH expression correlated with estrogen receptor in the female rat brains for this estrogen-regulated gene. DBH silencing was not a general response of neurons to infection, as human cytomegalovirus did not downregulate DBH expression. The noradrenergic-linked behaviors of sociability and arousal were altered in chronically infected animals, with a high correlation between DBH expression and infection intensity. A decrease in DBH expression in noradrenergic neurons can elevate dopamine levels, which provides a possible explanation for mixed observations of changes in this neurotransmitter with infection. Decreased NE is consistent with the loss of coordination and motor impairments associated with toxoplasmosis. Further, the altered norepinephrine synthesis observed here may, in part, explain behavioral effects of infection and associations with mental illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isra Alsaady
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Ellen Tedford
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Mohammad Alsaad
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Greg Bristow
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Shivali Kohli
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Murray
- Institute of Immunity & Transplantation, UCL Department of Virology, Division of Infection & Immunity, Royal Free Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Reeves
- Institute of Immunity & Transplantation, UCL Department of Virology, Division of Infection & Immunity, Royal Free Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - M S Vijayabaskar
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Steven J Clapcote
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Wastling
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Keele, Newcastle-under-Lyme, United Kingdom
| | - Glenn A McConkey
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
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Samojłowicz D, Twarowska-Małczyńska J, Borowska-Solonynko A, Poniatowski ŁA, Sharma N, Olczak M. Presence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in brain as a potential cause of risky behavior: a report of 102 autopsy cases. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2019; 38:305-317. [PMID: 30470966 PMCID: PMC6514116 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-018-3427-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis was linked to impairment in brain function, encompassing a wide range of behavioral and neuropsychiatric changes. Currently, the precise localization of Toxoplasma gondii in the human brain is limited and the parasite DNA was not found in population-based screening of autopsy cases. The aim of proposed study was to identify the presence of parasite DNA within the brain and its association with risky behavior and alcohol consumption in postmortem examination. Preliminarily, 102 cases with certain circumstances of death at time of forensic autopsy was included. Due to high risk of bias, the females were excluded from the analysis and final study group consists 97 cases divided into three groups: risky behavior, inconclusively risky behavior, and control group. The obtained tissue samples for Nested PCR covered four regions of the brain: symmetric left/right and anterior/posterior horns of lateral ventricles comprising lining ependyma and hippocampus. The second type of material comprised blood evaluated for antibodies prevalence using ELISA and alcohol concentration using HS-GC-FID. Analysis demonstrated 16.5% prevalence concerning the parasite DNA presence in examined brain tissue samples without specific distribution and association with age at death or days after death until an autopsy was performed. Results have shown correlation between occurrence of risky behavior leading to death and higher proportions of positive parasite DNA presence within the brain. Correlation was not observed between parasite DNA presence and excessive alcohol consumption. Conducted screening demonstrated correlation between parasite DNA presence in the brain with risky behavior and provided new information on possible effects of latent toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorota Samojłowicz
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Center for Biostructure Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Oczki 1, 02-007 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Joanna Twarowska-Małczyńska
- Department of General Biology and Parasitology, Center of Biostructure Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Chałubińskiego 5, 02-004 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Borowska-Solonynko
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Center for Biostructure Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Oczki 1, 02-007 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Łukasz A. Poniatowski
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology (CePT), Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1B, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, W. K. Roentgena 5, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Mieszko Olczak
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Center for Biostructure Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Oczki 1, 02-007 Warsaw, Poland
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Peng X, Brenner LA, Mathai AJ, Cook TB, Fuchs D, Postolache N, Groer MW, Pandey JP, Mohyuddin F, Giegling I, Wadhawan A, Hartmann AM, Konte B, Brundin L, Friedl M, Stiller JW, Lowry CA, Rujescu D, Postolache TT. Moderation of the relationship between Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and trait impulsivity in younger men by the phenylalanine-tyrosine ratio. Psychiatry Res 2018; 270:992-1000. [PMID: 30057257 PMCID: PMC6371810 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.03.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Revised: 12/23/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Previously, we reported that Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii)-seropositivity is associated with higher impulsive sensation seeking in younger men. As dopaminergic and serotonergic signaling regulate impulsivity, and as T. gondii directly and indirectly affects dopaminergic signaling and induces activation of the kynurenine pathway leading to the diversion of tryptophan from serotonin production, we investigated if dopamine and serotonin precursors or the tryptophan metabolite kynurenine interact with the T. gondii-impulsivity association. In 950 psychiatrically healthy participants, trait impulsivity scores were related to T. gondii IgG seropositivity. Interactions were also identified between categorized levels of phenylalanine (Phe), tyrosine (Tyr), Phe:Tyr ratio, kynurenine (Kyn), tryptophan (Trp) and Kyn:Trp ratio, and age and gender. Only younger T. gondii-positive men with a high Phe:Tyr ratio, were found to have significantly higher impulsivity scores. There were no significant associations in other demographic groups, including women and older men. No significant effects or interactions were identified for Phe, Tyr, Kyn, Trp, or Kyn:Trp ratio. Phe:Tyr ratio, therefore, may play a moderating role in the association between T. gondii seropositivity and impulsivity in younger men. These results could potentially lead to individualized approaches to reduce impulsivity, based on combined demographic, biochemical and serological factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqing Peng
- Mood and Anxiety Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA,Saint Elizabeths Hospital, Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Lisa A. Brenner
- Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) for Suicide Prevention, Denver, CO, USA,University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Departments of Psychiatry, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Neurology, Denver, CO, USA,Military and Veteran Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE). Denver, CO, USA
| | - Ashwin J. Mathai
- Mood and Anxiety Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA,Saint Elizabeths Hospital, Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Thomas B. Cook
- Department of Public Health & Mercyhurst Institute for Public Health, Mercyhurst University, Erie, PA, USA
| | - Dietmar Fuchs
- Division of Biological Chemistry, Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nadine Postolache
- Mood and Anxiety Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Janardan P. Pandey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Farooq Mohyuddin
- Saint Elizabeths Hospital, Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Ina Giegling
- Department of Psychiatry, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Abhishek Wadhawan
- Mood and Anxiety Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA,Saint Elizabeths Hospital, Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Annette M. Hartmann
- Department of Psychiatry, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Bettina Konte
- Department of Psychiatry, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Lena Brundin
- Division of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University and the Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Marion Friedl
- Department of Psychiatry, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - John W. Stiller
- Mood and Anxiety Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA,Saint Elizabeths Hospital, Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Christopher A. Lowry
- Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) for Suicide Prevention, Denver, CO, USA,Military and Veteran Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE). Denver, CO, USA,Department of Integrative Physiology and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Dan Rujescu
- Department of Psychiatry, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Teodor T. Postolache
- Mood and Anxiety Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA,Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) for Suicide Prevention, Denver, CO, USA,Military and Veteran Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE). Denver, CO, USA,VA Capitol Health Care Network, Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (VISN 5 MIRECC), Baltimore, MD, USA,Correspondent author. (T.T. Postolache)
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Berrett AN, Gale SD, Erickson LD, Thacker EL, Brown BL, Hedges DW. Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and substance use in US adults. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2018; 65. [PMID: 30213919 DOI: 10.14411/fp.2018.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2017] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle et Manceaux, 1908) infects humans resulting in acute toxoplasmosis, an infection that in immunocompetent people is typically mild but results in persistent latent toxoplasmosis. In that T. gondii appears to affect dopamine synthesis and because addicting drugs affect midbrain dopamine transmission, latent toxoplasmosis could influence substance use. Using both the third and continuous National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we used logistic regression to test for associations between T. gondii seropositivity and subject self-report of having ever used tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine. In the third NHANES dataset, which included data for tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and cocaine, T. gondii seropositivity was associated with a reduced likelihood of self-reported marijuana (OR = 0.71 [95% CI: 0.58; 0.87]; p = 0.001) and cocaine use (OR = 0.72 [95% CI: 0.56; 0.91]; p = 0.006). In the continuous National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys dataset, which included data for all six substances, T. gondii seropositivity was associated with a reduced likelihood of self-reported tobacco (OR = 0.87 [95% CI: 0.76; 1.00]; p = 0.044), marijuana (OR = 0.60 [95% CI: 0.50; 0.72]; p < 0.001), heroin (OR = 0.60 [95% CI: 0.42; 0.85]; p = 0.005) and methamphetamine use (OR = 0.54 [95% CI: 0.38; 0.77]; p = 0.001). We observed interactions between sex and T. gondii seropositivity in the prediction of self-reported use of tobacco and alcohol. Further, T. gondii seropositivity appeared to remove the protective effect of education and economic status against self-reported cigarette smoking. These findings suggest that T. gondii seropositivity may be inversely associated with some but not all types of substance use in US adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew N Berrett
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
| | - Shawn D Gale
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America.,The Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
| | - Lance D Erickson
- Department of Sociology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
| | - Evan L Thacker
- Department of Public Health, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America This article contains supporting information (S1) online at http://folia.paru.cas.cz/suppl/2018-65-011.pdf
| | - Bruce L Brown
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
| | - Dawson W Hedges
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America.,The Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
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Estato V, Stipursky J, Gomes F, Mergener TC, Frazão-Teixeira E, Allodi S, Tibiriçá E, Barbosa HS, Adesse D. The Neurotropic Parasite Toxoplasma gondii Induces Sustained Neuroinflammation with Microvascular Dysfunction in Infected Mice. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2018; 188:2674-2687. [PMID: 30121257 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2018.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Revised: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is one of the leading parasitic diseases worldwide. Some data suggest that chronic acquired toxoplasmosis could be linked to behavioral alterations in humans. The parasite infects neurons, forming immunologically silent cysts. Cerebral microcirculation homeostasis is determinant to brain functions, and pathologic states can alter capillarity or blood perfusion, leading to neurodegeneration and cognitive deficits. Albino mice were infected with Toxoplasma gondii (ME49 strain) and analyzed after 10, 40, and 180 days. Infected mice presented decreased cerebral blood flow at 10 and 40 days post infection (dpi), which were restored at 180 dpi, as shown by laser speckle contrast imaging. Intravital microscopy demonstrated that infection led to significant capillary rarefaction, accompanied by neuroinflammation, with microglial activation and increased numbers of rolling and adherent leukocytes to the wall of cerebral capillaries. Acetylcholine-induced vasodilation was altered at all time points, and blood brain barrier permeability was evident in infected animals at 40 dpi. Infection reduced angiogenesis, with a decreased number of isolectin B4-stained blood vessels and a decrease in length and branching of laminin-stained capillaries. Sulfadiazine reduced parasite load and partially repaired microvascular damages. We conclude that T. gondii latent infection causes a harmful insult in the brain, promoting neuroinflammation and microcirculatory dysfunction in the brain, with decreased angiogenesis and can contribute to a neurodegenerative process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Estato
- Laboratório de Investigação Cardiovascular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Laboratório de Produtos Naturais, Departamento de Produtos Naturais, Farmanguinhos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Joice Stipursky
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fabiana Gomes
- Laboratório de Investigação Cardiovascular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Tally C Mergener
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Edwards Frazão-Teixeira
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Silvana Allodi
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia Comparativa e do Desenvolvimento, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Tibiriçá
- Laboratório de Investigação Cardiovascular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Helene S Barbosa
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Daniel Adesse
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Syn G, Anderson D, Blackwell JM, Jamieson SE. Epigenetic dysregulation of host gene expression in Toxoplasma infection with specific reference to dopamine and amyloid pathways. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2018; 65:159-162. [PMID: 30055328 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2018.07.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Revised: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Recent interest has focussed on the influence of infectious disease organisms on the host epigenome. Toxoplasma gondii infection acquired congenitally or in early life is associated with severe ocular and brain developmental anomalies, while persistent asymptomatic infection is a proposed risk factor for neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders, including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Diseases, and schizophrenia. Genome-wide analysis of the host methylome and transcriptome following T. gondii infection in a retinal cell line identified genes (132, 186 and 128 genes at 2, 6 and 24 h post-infection) concordant for methylation and expression, i.e. hypermethylated and decreased expression or hypomethylated and increased expression. Pathway analyses showed perturbation of two neurologically-associated pathways: dopamine-DARPP32 feedback in cAMP signalling (p-value = 8.3 × 10-5; adjusted p-value = 0.020); and amyloid processing (p-value = 1.0 × 10-3; adjusted p-value = 0.043). Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) decreased in level following T. gondii infection. These results are of interest given the expression of APP early in nervous system development affecting neural migration and the role of amyloid processing in Alzheimer's disease, while dopamine has roles in the developing retina as well as in Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia. Our results provide a possible functional link between T. gondii infection and congenital/early life and adult neurological clinical signs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genevieve Syn
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, PO Box 855, West Perth, Western Australia 6872, Australia.
| | - Denise Anderson
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, PO Box 855, West Perth, Western Australia 6872, Australia
| | - Jenefer M Blackwell
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, PO Box 855, West Perth, Western Australia 6872, Australia.
| | - Sarra E Jamieson
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, PO Box 855, West Perth, Western Australia 6872, Australia
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McFarland R, Wang ZT, Jouroukhin Y, Li Y, Mychko O, Coppens I, Xiao J, Jones-Brando L, Yolken RH, Sibley LD, Pletnikov MV. AAH2 gene is not required for dopamine-dependent neurochemical and behavioral abnormalities produced by Toxoplasma infection in mouse. Behav Brain Res 2018; 347:193-200. [PMID: 29555339 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Revised: 03/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Infection with the protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), has been associated with the increased risk for several psychiatric disorders. The exact mechanisms of a hypothesized contribution of T. gondii infection are poorly understood. The T. gondii genome contains two aromatic amino acid hydroxylase genes (AAH1 and AAH2) that encode proteins that can produce L-DOPA. One popular hypothesis posits that these encoded enzymes might influence dopamine (DA) production and hence DA synaptic transmission, leading to neurobehavioral abnormalities in the infected host. Prior studies have shown that deletion of these genes does not alter DA levels in the brain or exploratory activity in infected mice. However, possible effects of AAH gene deficiency on infection-induced brain and behavior alterations that are directly linked to DA synaptic transmission have not been evaluated. We found that chronic T. gondii infection of BALB/c mice leads to blunted response to amphetamine or cocaine and decreased expression of Dopamine Transporter (DAT) and Vesicular Monoamine Transporter 2 (VMAT2). Deletion of AAH2 had no effects on these changes in infected mice. Both wild type and Δaah2 strains produced comparable levels of neuroinflammation. Our findings demonstrate that AAH2 is not required for T. gondii infection-produced DA-dependent neurobehavioral abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross McFarland
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Zi Teng Wang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Yan Jouroukhin
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Ye Li
- Stanley Neurovirology Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Olga Mychko
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Isabelle Coppens
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Jianchun Xiao
- Stanley Neurovirology Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Lorraine Jones-Brando
- Stanley Neurovirology Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Robert H Yolken
- Stanley Neurovirology Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - L David Sibley
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Mikhail V Pletnikov
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA; Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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40
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Sun M, McDonald SJ, Brady RD, O'Brien TJ, Shultz SR. The influence of immunological stressors on traumatic brain injury. Brain Behav Immun 2018; 69:618-628. [PMID: 29355823 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2018.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2017] [Revised: 01/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, and typically involves a robust immune response. Although a great deal of preclinical research has been conducted to identify an effective treatment, all phase III clinical trials have been unsuccessful to date. These translational shortcomings are in part due to a failure to recognize and account for the heterogeneity of TBI, including how extracranial factors can influence the aftermath of TBI. For example, most preclinical studies have utilized isolated TBI models in young adult males, while clinical trials typically involve highly heterogeneous patient populations (e.g., different mechanisms of injury, a range of ages, presence of polytrauma or infection). This paper will review the current, albeit limited literature related to how TBI is affected by common concomitant immunological stressors. In particular, discussion will focus on whether extracranial trauma (i.e., polytrauma), infection, and age/immunosenescence can influence TBI pathophysiology, and thereby may result in a different brain injury than what would have occurred in an isolated TBI. It is concluded that these immunological stressors are all likely to be TBI modifiers that should be further studied and could impact translational treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mujun Sun
- Department of Medicine, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Stuart J McDonald
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Rhys D Brady
- Department of Medicine, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia; Departments of Neuroscience and Medicine, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Terence J O'Brien
- Department of Medicine, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia; Departments of Neuroscience and Medicine, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Sandy R Shultz
- Department of Medicine, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia; Departments of Neuroscience and Medicine, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia.
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41
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Flegr J, Preiss M, Balátová P. Depressiveness and Neuroticism in Bartonella Seropositive and Seronegative Subjects-Preregistered Case-Controls Study. Front Psychiatry 2018; 9:314. [PMID: 30061846 PMCID: PMC6055045 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Several recent studies have demonstrated the association of cat-related injuries with major depression and with depressiveness in the general population. It was suggested that cat-scratch disease, the infection with the bacterium Bartonella henselae, can be responsible for the observed association. However, no direct evidence for the role of the Bartonella infection in this association has been published until now. In this preregistered case-controls study performed on 250 healthy subjects tested earlier for the presence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies, we searched for the positive association between presence of anamnestic anti-Bartonella IgG antibodies and depressiveness measured with Beck II inventory, depression subscale of neuroticism measured with N-70 questionnaire, and self-reported health problems. We found that that Bartonella seropositivity was positively correlated with Beck depression only in Toxoplasma-seronegative men and negatively correlated with health in Toxoplasma-seronegative women. Bartonella seropositivity expressed protective effects against Toxoplasma seropositivity-associated increased neuroticism in men while Toxoplasma-seropositivity expressed protective effects against Bartonella seropositivity-associated health problems in women. A comparison of the patterns of association of mental and physical health problems with Bartonella seropositivity and with reported cat-related injury suggests that different factor, possibly infection with different pathogen transmitted by cat related-injuries than the B. henselae, is responsible for the observed association of cat related-injuries with depressiveness and major depression. The existence of complex interactions between Bartonella seropositivity, Toxoplasma seropositivity, and sex also suggest that the effect of symbionts on the host's phenotype must by always studied in the context of other infections, and separately for men and women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaroslav Flegr
- Applied Neurosciences and Brain Imagination, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czechia.,Division of Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Marek Preiss
- Diagnostics and Treatment of Mental Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czechia
| | - Pavla Balátová
- National Reference Laboratory for Lyme Disease, National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czechia
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42
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Afonso C, Paixão VB, Klaus A, Lunghi M, Piro F, Emiliani C, Di Cristina M, Costa RM. Toxoplasma-induced changes in host risk behaviour are independent of parasite-derived AaaH2 tyrosine hydroxylase. Sci Rep 2017; 7:13822. [PMID: 29062106 PMCID: PMC5653819 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13229-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii infects a broad range of hosts and can establish chronic infections with the formation of brain cysts. Infected animals show altered risk behaviour which has been suggested to increase capture probability of hosts, and thus enhance parasite transmission. It has been proposed that the ability of Toxoplasma cysts to secrete tyrosine hydroxylase could mediate these behavioural alterations. We tested the involvement of secreted tyrosine hydroxylase, coded by the parasite AaaH2 gene, in the development of alterations in mouse behaviour, by generating an AaaH2 deletion mutant parasite strain and testing its influence on behaviour. We found that both mice infected with wild type or AaaH2 mutant strains showed changes in risk behaviour. We confirmed these findings using factor analysis of the behaviour, which revealed that behavioural changes happened along a single dimension, and were observed in both infected groups. Furthermore, we developed a new behavioural paradigm in which animals are unpredictably trapped, and observed that both groups of infected animals perceive trapping but fail to adjust their behaviour to avoid further trapping. These results demonstrate that parasite-secreted AaaH2 TH is neither necessary for the generation of risky behaviour nor for the increased trappability observed during chronic Toxoplasma infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Afonso
- Champalimaud Center for the Unknown, Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme, Av. Brasília, Doca de Pedrouços, 1400-038, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Vitor B Paixão
- Champalimaud Center for the Unknown, Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme, Av. Brasília, Doca de Pedrouços, 1400-038, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Andreas Klaus
- Champalimaud Center for the Unknown, Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme, Av. Brasília, Doca de Pedrouços, 1400-038, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Matteo Lunghi
- University of Perugia, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, Building B, Via del Giochetto, 06122, Perugia, Italy
| | - Federica Piro
- University of Perugia, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, Building B, Via del Giochetto, 06122, Perugia, Italy
| | - Carla Emiliani
- University of Perugia, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, Building B, Via del Giochetto, 06122, Perugia, Italy
| | - Manlio Di Cristina
- University of Perugia, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, Building B, Via del Giochetto, 06122, Perugia, Italy.
| | - Rui M Costa
- Champalimaud Center for the Unknown, Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme, Av. Brasília, Doca de Pedrouços, 1400-038, Lisboa, Portugal.
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43
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Ngô HM, Zhou Y, Lorenzi H, Wang K, Kim TK, Zhou Y, El Bissati K, Mui E, Fraczek L, Rajagopala SV, Roberts CW, Henriquez FL, Montpetit A, Blackwell JM, Jamieson SE, Wheeler K, Begeman IJ, Naranjo-Galvis C, Alliey-Rodriguez N, Davis RG, Soroceanu L, Cobbs C, Steindler DA, Boyer K, Noble AG, Swisher CN, Heydemann PT, Rabiah P, Withers S, Soteropoulos P, Hood L, McLeod R. Toxoplasma Modulates Signature Pathways of Human Epilepsy, Neurodegeneration & Cancer. Sci Rep 2017; 7:11496. [PMID: 28904337 PMCID: PMC5597608 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10675-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2016] [Accepted: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
One third of humans are infected lifelong with the brain-dwelling, protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. Approximately fifteen million of these have congenital toxoplasmosis. Although neurobehavioral disease is associated with seropositivity, causality is unproven. To better understand what this parasite does to human brains, we performed a comprehensive systems analysis of the infected brain: We identified susceptibility genes for congenital toxoplasmosis in our cohort of infected humans and found these genes are expressed in human brain. Transcriptomic and quantitative proteomic analyses of infected human, primary, neuronal stem and monocytic cells revealed effects on neurodevelopment and plasticity in neural, immune, and endocrine networks. These findings were supported by identification of protein and miRNA biomarkers in sera of ill children reflecting brain damage and T. gondii infection. These data were deconvoluted using three systems biology approaches: "Orbital-deconvolution" elucidated upstream, regulatory pathways interconnecting human susceptibility genes, biomarkers, proteomes, and transcriptomes. "Cluster-deconvolution" revealed visual protein-protein interaction clusters involved in processes affecting brain functions and circuitry, including lipid metabolism, leukocyte migration and olfaction. Finally, "disease-deconvolution" identified associations between the parasite-brain interactions and epilepsy, movement disorders, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer. This "reconstruction-deconvolution" logic provides templates of progenitor cells' potentiating effects, and components affecting human brain parasitism and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huân M Ngô
- The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.,Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.,BrainMicro LLC, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Ying Zhou
- The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | | | - Kai Wang
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Taek-Kyun Kim
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Yong Zhou
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | | | - Ernest Mui
- The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | | | | | | | - Fiona L Henriquez
- The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.,FLH, IBEHR School of Science and Sport, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley, PA1 2BE, UK
| | - Alexandre Montpetit
- Genome Quebec, Montréal, QC H3B 1S6, Canada; McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada
| | - Jenefer M Blackwell
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QP, United Kingdom.,Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Sarra E Jamieson
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Charles Cobbs
- California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, 94114, USA
| | - Dennis A Steindler
- JM USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA, 02111, USA
| | - Kenneth Boyer
- Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - A Gwendolyn Noble
- Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Charles N Swisher
- Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | | | - Peter Rabiah
- Northshore University Health System, Evanston, IL, 60201, USA
| | | | | | - Leroy Hood
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Rima McLeod
- The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
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44
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Stock AK, Dajkic D, Köhling HL, von Heinegg EH, Fiedler M, Beste C. Humans with latent toxoplasmosis display altered reward modulation of cognitive control. Sci Rep 2017; 7:10170. [PMID: 28860577 PMCID: PMC5579228 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10926-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Latent infection with Toxoplasma gondii has repeatedly been shown to be associated with behavioral changes that are commonly attributed to a presumed increase in dopaminergic signaling. Yet, virtually nothing is known about its effects on dopamine-driven reward processing. We therefore assessed behavior and event-related potentials in individuals with vs. without latent toxoplasmosis performing a rewarded control task. The data show that otherwise healthy young adults with latent toxoplasmosis show a greatly diminished response to monetary rewards as compared to their non-infected counterparts. While this selective effect eliminated a toxoplasmosis-induced speed advantage previously observed for non-rewarded behavior, Toxo-positive subjects could still be demonstrated to be superior to Toxo-negative subjects with respect to response accuracy. Event-related potential (ERP) and source localization analyses revealed that this advantage during rewarded behavior was based on increased allocation of processing resources reflected by larger visual late positive component (LPC) amplitudes and associated activity changes in the right temporo-parietal junction (BA40) and left auditory cortex (BA41). Taken together, individuals with latent toxoplasmosis show superior behavioral performance in challenging cognitive control situations but may at the same time have a reduced sensitivity towards motivational effects of rewards, which might be explained by the presumed increase in dopamine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann-Kathrin Stock
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine of the TU Dresden, Schubertstr. 42, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Danica Dajkic
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine of the TU Dresden, Schubertstr. 42, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Hedda Luise Köhling
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Virchowstr. 179, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Evelyn Heintschel von Heinegg
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Virchowstr. 179, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Melanie Fiedler
- Institute of Virology, University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Virchowstr. 179, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Christian Beste
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine of the TU Dresden, Schubertstr. 42, 01307, Dresden, Germany.,Experimental Neurobiology, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
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45
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Pinoli M, Marino F, Cosentino M. Dopaminergic Regulation of Innate Immunity: a Review. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2017; 12:602-623. [PMID: 28578466 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-017-9749-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2016] [Accepted: 04/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Dopamine (DA) is a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system as well as in peripheral tissues. Emerging evidence however points to DA also as a key transmitter between the nervous system and the immune system as well as a mediator produced and released by immune cells themselves. Dopaminergic pathways have received so far extensive attention in the adaptive branch of the immune system, where they play a role in health and disease such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, and Parkinson's disease. Comparatively little is known about DA and the innate immune response, although DA may affect innate immune system cells such as dendritic cells, macrophages, microglia, and neutrophils. The present review aims at providing a complete and exhaustive summary of currently available evidence about DA and innate immunity, and to become a reference for anyone potentially interested in the fields of immunology, neurosciences and pharmacology. A wide array of dopaminergic drugs is used in therapeutics for non-immune indications, such as Parkinson's disease, hyperprolactinemia, shock, hypertension, with a usually favorable therapeutic index, and they might be relatively easily repurposed for immune-mediated disease, thus leading to innovative treatments at low price, with benefit for patients as well as for the healthcare systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Pinoli
- Center of Research in Medical Pharmacology, University of Insubria, Via Ottorino Rossi n. 9, 21100, Varese, VA, Italy
| | - Franca Marino
- Center of Research in Medical Pharmacology, University of Insubria, Via Ottorino Rossi n. 9, 21100, Varese, VA, Italy.
| | - Marco Cosentino
- Center of Research in Medical Pharmacology, University of Insubria, Via Ottorino Rossi n. 9, 21100, Varese, VA, Italy
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46
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Toxoplasma Gondii Moderates the Association between Multiple Folate-Cycle Factors and Cognitive Function in U.S. Adults. Nutrients 2017; 9:nu9060564. [PMID: 28574478 PMCID: PMC5490543 DOI: 10.3390/nu9060564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2017] [Revised: 05/25/2017] [Accepted: 05/29/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a microscopic, apicomplexan parasite that can infect muscle or neural tissue, including the brain, in humans. While T. gondii infection has been associated with changes in mood, behavior, and cognition, the mechanism remains unclear. Recent evidence suggests that T. gondii may harvest folate from host neural cells. Reduced folate availability is associated with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and cognitive decline. We hypothesized that impairment in cognitive functioning in subjects seropositive for T. gondii might be associated with a reduction of folate availability in neural cells. We analyzed data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to determine the associations between T. gondii infection, multiple folate-cycle factors, and three tests of cognitive functioning in U.S. adults aged 20 to 59 years. In these analyses, T. gondii moderated the associations of folate, vitamin B-12, and homocysteine with performance on the Serial Digit Learning task, a measure of learning and memory, as well as the association of folate with reaction time. The results of this study suggest that T. gondii might affect brain levels of folate and/or vitamin B-12 enough to affect cognitive functioning.
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47
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Neurophysiological Changes Induced by Chronic Toxoplasma gondii Infection. Pathogens 2017; 6:pathogens6020019. [PMID: 28513566 PMCID: PMC5488653 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens6020019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Revised: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the parasite Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most pervasive neurotropic pathogens in the world, the host-parasite interactions during CNS infection and the consequences of neurological infection are just beginning to be unraveled. The chronic stages of infection have been considered dormant, although several studies have found correlations of infection with an array of host behavioral changes. These may facilitate parasite transmission and impact neurological diseases. During infection, in addition to the presence of the parasites within neurons, host-mediated neuroimmune and hormonal responses to infection are also present. T. gondii induces numerous changes to host neurons during infection and globally alters host neurological signaling pathways, as discussed in this review. Understanding the neurophysiological changes in the host brain is imperative to understanding the parasitic mechanisms and to delineate the effects of this single-celled parasite on health and its contribution to neurological disease.
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48
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Dickerson F, Wilcox HC, Adamos M, Katsafanas E, Khushalani S, Origoni A, Savage C, Schweinfurth L, Stallings C, Sweeney K, Yolken R. Suicide attempts and markers of immune response in individuals with serious mental illness. J Psychiatr Res 2017; 87:37-43. [PMID: 27988332 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2016.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2016] [Revised: 11/02/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies have identified elevations in antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in individuals with a history of suicide attempts but studies have not measured the association between suicide attempts and a panel of antibody markers. We assessed 162 patients receiving treatment for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale for suicide attempt history and other clinical measures. All participants had a blood sample drawn from which were measured antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and other neurotropic infectious agents. A total of 72 (44%) of participants had a lifetime suicide attempt; these individuals had elevated levels of IgM class antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and Cytomegalovirus (CMV). We also found an association between the levels of these antibodies and the number of suicide attempts. There was a particularly strong odds of a suicide attempt history in individuals who had elevated levels of IgM antibodies to both Toxoplasma gondii and to CMV suggesting an additive risk associated with the antibodies. These findings remained significant when adjusting for current cigarette smoking and history of drug/alcohol use which were also associated with suicide attempts. We did not find an association between a suicide attempt history and IgG class antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii, CMV, or IgM or IgG antibodies to the Epstein Barr Virus or other antigens tested. The identification of blood-based antibody markers should provide for more personalized methods for the assessment and treatment, and ultimately prevention, of suicide attempts in individuals with serious mental illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faith Dickerson
- Stanley Research Program, Sheppard Pratt Health System, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Holly C Wilcox
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Maria Adamos
- Stanley Research Program, Sheppard Pratt Health System, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Emily Katsafanas
- Stanley Research Program, Sheppard Pratt Health System, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sunil Khushalani
- Stanley Research Program, Sheppard Pratt Health System, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andrea Origoni
- Stanley Research Program, Sheppard Pratt Health System, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Christina Savage
- Stanley Research Program, Sheppard Pratt Health System, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lucy Schweinfurth
- Stanley Research Program, Sheppard Pratt Health System, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Cassie Stallings
- Stanley Research Program, Sheppard Pratt Health System, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kevin Sweeney
- Stanley Research Program, Sheppard Pratt Health System, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Robert Yolken
- Stanley Neurovirology Laboratory, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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49
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Babaie J, Sayyah M, Fard-Esfahani P, Golkar M, Gharagozli K. Contribution of dopamine neurotransmission in proconvulsant effect of Toxoplasma gondii infection in male mice. J Neurosci Res 2017; 95:1894-1905. [PMID: 28266723 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2016] [Revised: 01/18/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurologic disorders worldwide with no distinguishable cause in 60% of patients. One-third of world's population is infected with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). This intracellular parasite has high tendency to excitable cells including neurons. We assessed seizure susceptibility and involvement of dopaminergic system in male mice with acute and chronic T. gondii infection. Mice were infected by intraperitoneal injection of T. gondii cysts. Acute and chronic stages of infection were determined by quantification of SAG1/BAG1 transcripts and level of repetitive REP-529 sequence in the brain of mice by real-time PCR. Threshold of clonic seizures was measured by tail vein infusion of pentylenetetrazole. The infected mice were pretreated with D1 and D2 dopamine receptor antagonists, and seizure threshold was measured. Moreover, seizure threshold was determined after treatment of toxoplasmosis by sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. SAG1 level reached the maximum at week 2 after infection and then declined. The maximum level of BAG1 was observed at the week 3 and preserved till the week 8. REP-529 was detected at first week after infection, reached maximum at the week 3 and kept at this level till the eighth week. Threshold of seizures significantly decreased in both acute and chronic phases of infection. D1 and D2 receptors antagonists inhibited proconvulsant effect of toxoplasmosis. Chemotherapy inhibited parasite growth and multiplication, and returned seizure susceptibility to the level of non-infected mice. Dopaminergic neurotransmission participates in proconvulsant effect of T. gondii. The effect of parasite is eliminated by antibiotic therapy. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jalal Babaie
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.,Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Sayyah
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Majid Golkar
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kourosh Gharagozli
- Department of Neurology, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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50
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Wang ZT, Verma SK, Dubey JP, Sibley LD. The aromatic amino acid hydroxylase genes AAH1 and AAH2 in Toxoplasma gondii contribute to transmission in the cat. PLoS Pathog 2017; 13:e1006272. [PMID: 28288194 PMCID: PMC5363998 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Revised: 03/23/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The Toxoplasma gondii genome contains two aromatic amino acid hydroxylase genes, AAH1 and AAH2 encode proteins that produce L-DOPA, which can serve as a precursor of catecholamine neurotransmitters. It has been suggested that this pathway elevates host dopamine levels thus making infected rodents less fearful of their definitive Felidae hosts. However, L-DOPA is also a structural precursor of melanins, secondary quinones, and dityrosine protein crosslinks, which are produced by many species. For example, dityrosine crosslinks are abundant in the oocyst walls of Eimeria and T. gondii, although their structural role has not been demonstrated, Here, we investigated the biology of AAH knockout parasites in the sexual reproductive cycle within cats. We found that ablation of the AAH genes resulted in reduced infection in the cat, lower oocyst yields, and decreased rates of sporulation. Our findings suggest that the AAH genes play a predominant role during infection in the gut of the definitive feline host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi T. Wang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Shiv K. Verma
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jitender P. Dubey
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - L. David Sibley
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
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