Biomolecular changes and cortical neurodegenerative lesions in Trichinella spiralis infected BALB/c mice: a preliminary study elucidating a potential relationship between systemic helminthic infections and idiopathic Parkinson’s

Abstract

SummaryIdiopathic Parkinson’s (IP) is a neurodegenerative disease that is suspected to be due to exposure to infections during early life. Toxoplasmosishas been the only suspected parasitic infection in IP (Celik et al., 2010). Recently, some non-central nervous system bacterial and viral infections have been incriminated in IP (Çamcı & Oğuz, 2016). So in the current study, we tried to explore if the systemic inflammatory reactions triggered by some helminths like Trichinella spiralis can induce Parkinsonian lesions in the brain, especially that the cerebral complications have been reported in 10-20% of Trichinella spiralis infected patients . An experimental study was designed to assess the neurodegenerative and biomolecular changes that may occur in Trichinella spiralis infected BALB/C mice in comparison to rotenone induced PD model and apparently healthy ones. The motor affection was significantly lesser in the Trichinella infected mice than the Parkinson’s model, but when the catalepsy score was calculated (through the grid and bar tests) it was found to be significantly higher in the infected mice than in the healthy ones. A significant increase in the blood advanced oxidative protein products (AOPP), IFN-γ, TGF-β, and brain DNA fragmentation was also detected in the Trichinella spiralis infected mice. After histopathological examination, a significant increase in the cortical apoptotic neurons and Lewy’s body were observed in the Trichinella infected and the rotenone induced Parkinson’s model sections. A significant decrease in the immunohistochemical expression of the tyrosine hydroxylase expression in the brain sections and the ELISA measured dopamine level in the brain homogenate was also reported in the infected mice group. This study findings may collectively suggest that the systemic inflammatory reactions and the oxidative stresses associated with some systemic helminthic infections like trichinellosis are possible to precipitate neurodegenerative lesions and biomolecular changes in the brain , and manifest with IPD later in life.

Probiotic bacteria can modulate murine macrophage’s superoxide production in Trichinella spiralis infection

“…Trichinellosis is a serious foodborne parasitic zoonosis caused by the nematode of the genus Trichinella, which is characterized by an extremely wide host range and worldwide distribution (Brus chi,2012;Goździket al, 2017). The pathology of trichinellosis is associatedwithinitialinfl ammatoryresponseduringtheintestinal phase,andsubsequentallergicandinfl ammatoryresponsesduring larval migration and invasion of the host muscles (Bruschi & Chiumiento, 2011;Hasby Saad et al,2018).Theeffi cacyofclassic therapy with benzimidazoles is limited due to weak activity against encapsulated larvae, low water solubility, anthelmintic resistance, contraindication in children and pregnancy (Yadav & Temjenmong la, 2012). The antiparasitic potential of alternative therapeutic approaches is therefore increasing in recent years.…”

Curcumin Nanoparticles Versus Curcumin in Amelioration of Inflammatory and Pathological Changes During the Migratory Phase of Murine Trichinellosis

“…Trichinella spiralis NBL migration is considered the most dangerous phase of infection, during which there is a generalized extensive immune-inflammatory reaction resulting from the high antigenicity of the larvae (Pozio, 2007). They can cause systemic inflammatory manifestations all over the body before habituating their final destination (Saad et al, 2018). The lung is one of the main organs for the retention and destruction of NBL (Bruschi et al, 1992).…”

“…Farid et al (2019) observed acute hepatitis in response to infection with T. spiralis in rats. Saad et al (2018) reported that trichinellosis caused a cerebrovascular disease in 10-20% of patients. Moreover, cardiac and cerebral affections are the most fatal complications in this phase (Pozio et al, 2019).…”

“…Upon infection with T. spiralis, mice showed an innate and adaptive immune response to limit tissue injury and to reduce immune-mediated inflammation caused by migrating NBL, however, this response facilitates the intracellular infection by T. spiralis (Huang et al, 2014). In the migratory phase of trichinellosis, a severe immune stimulation is triggered by the presence of adult worms in the intestine and the larvae (whether the free NBL in the circulation or the incompletely encysted larvae in the muscles) leading to the release of a large amount of pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress products (Saad et al, 2018). Moreover, activation of macrophages during T. spiralis infection may lead to the production of TNF-to be effective for killing some parasites, such as Leishmania (Lopes et al, 2014).…”

“…In addition, the hippocampus was examined for the thickness of the dentate gyrus pyramidal zone and neural apoptosis to predict the possibility of association of T. spiralis with epilepsy. the infected and treated groups because the association of T. spiralis disease was postulated (Saad et al, 2018). The apoptosis of neurons was detected using anti-cleaved caspase 3IHC staining in parenchyma and hippocampus.…”