Chronic Toxoplasma gondii Infection Potentiates Parkinson’s Disease Course in Mice Model

Firouzeh, Nima; Ziaali, Naser; Sheibani, Vahid; Doustimotlagh, Amir Hossein; Afgar, Ali; Zamanpour, Maryam; Keshavarz, Hossein; Shojaee, Saeideh; Salehi, Reza; Esmaeilpour, Khadijeh; Babaei, Zahra

doi:10.18502/ijpa.v16i4.7863

Cited by 6 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…We therefore investigated the effects of β-glucan on microgliosis in the PFC of mice infected with T. gondii Wh6. Using Iba-1 as the immunofluorescent marker of microglia, we found that T. gondii infection significantly increased the number of microglia in the PFC, while β-glucan was clearly observed to decrease the number of microglia (F (3,36) = 303.7, P < 0.0001; Fig. 4b).…”

Section: β-Glucan Suppressed Microglia Activation In the Pfc Of T Gon...mentioning

confidence: 90%

“…Following our observation that β-glucan improved microglial and astrocyte activation, we examined the effects of β-glucan on pro-inflammatory cytokines. Using double immunofluorescent staining of Iba-1 and IL-6, we found that the average intensity of fluorescence in IL-6-positive (IL-6 + ) cells and the percentages of Iba1 + IL-6 + cells in Iba1 + cells in the TG group were significantly higher than those in the NC group, while β-glucan significantly inhibited these alternations (F (3,36) = 4495, P < 0.0001, Fig. 6b; F (3, 36) = 145.3, P < 0.0001, Fig.…”

Section: β-Glucan Restricted the Expression Of Pro-inflammatory Cytok...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Generally, chronic T. gondii infections are asymptomatic [ 2 ]. However, compelling evidence links chronic T. gondii infection with psycho-behavioral disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease (PD), that are characterized by cognitive dysfunction [ 3 , 4 ]. For example, it has been reported that seropositive individuals infected with T. gondii exhibit subclinical alteration of behavior and a higher risk of PD [ 5 ] and that mice suffering from toxoplasmosis exhibit signs of AD [ 6 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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β-Glucan alleviates goal-directed behavioral deficits in mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii

et al. 2023

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Background Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a neuroinvasive parasite causing neuroinflammation, which in turn is associated with a higher risk for several psycho-behavioral disorders. There is an urgent need to identify drugs capable of improving cognitive deficits induced by T. gondii infection. β-Glucan, an active ingredient in mushrooms, could significantly enhance immunity. However, the effects of β-glucan against neuroinflammation and cognitive decline induced by T. gondii infection remain unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effect of β-glucan on goal-directed behavior of mice chronically infected by T. gondii Wh6 strain. Methods A mice model of chronic T. gondii Wh6 infection was established by infecting mice by oral gavage with 10 cysts of T. gondii Wh6. Intraperitoneal injection of β-glucan was manipulated 2 weeks before T. gondii infection. Performance of the infected mice on the Y-maze test and temporal order memory (TOM) test was used to assess the goal-directed behavior. Golgi-Cox staining, transmission electron microscopy, immunofluorescence, real-time PCR and western blot assays were used to detect prefrontal cortex-associated pathological change and neuroinflammation. Results The administration of β-glucan significantly prevented T. gondii Wh6-induced goal-directed behavioral impairment as assessed behaviorally by the Y-maze test and TOM test. In the prefrontal cortex, β-glucan was able to counter T. gondii Wh6-induced degeneration of neurites, impairment of synaptic ultrastructure and decrease of pre- and postsynaptic protein levels. Also, β-glucan significantly prevented the hyperactivation of pro-inflammatory microglia and astrocytes, as well as the upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines caused by chronic T. gondii Wh6 infection. Conclusions This study revealed that β-glucan prevents goal-directed behavioral impairment induced by chronic T. gondii infection in mice. These findings suggest that β-glucan may be an effective drug candidate to prevent T. gondii-associated psycho-behavioral disorders including goal-directed behavioral injury. Graphical Abstract

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Section: β-Glucan Suppressed Microglia Activation In the Pfc Of T Gon...mentioning

confidence: 90%

Section: β-Glucan Restricted the Expression Of Pro-inflammatory Cytok...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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β-Glucan alleviates goal-directed behavioral deficits in mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii

et al. 2023

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“…Depending on social and cultural habits, geographical factors, climate and transmission routes, the Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis varies widely between different countries (10–80%) (Zarean et al 2017 ). On a global scale, T. gondii infection is thought to affect more than a billion people (Firouzeh et al 2021 ). Ingesting cat feces-contaminated food or eating tissue cysts from raw or undercooked meat are the two major ways that people get sick, so that is the second most important food-borne parasitic disease in Europe (Firouzeh et al 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On a global scale, T. gondii infection is thought to affect more than a billion people (Firouzeh et al 2021 ). Ingesting cat feces-contaminated food or eating tissue cysts from raw or undercooked meat are the two major ways that people get sick, so that is the second most important food-borne parasitic disease in Europe (Firouzeh et al 2021 ). In those with immune deficiencies or immune breakdown, this protozoan is regarded as an opportunistic and potentially fatal parasite (Sina et al 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toxoplasmosis and symptoms severity in patients with COVID-19 in referral centers in Northern Iran

et al. 2022

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Toxoplasmosis has been categorized as one of the long-lasting protozoan parasitic infections. It affects almost one-third of the world’s population. In recent years, several documented studies have elucidated that infected individuals have a remarkably higher incidence of distinct health problems and show various adverse effects. In the PCR-positive COVID-19 patients in Gonbad-e-Kavus, Kalaleh, and Minoodasht counties in the northern part of Iran from June 2021 to December 2021, we sought to investigate any potential relationships between the severity of COVID-19 symptoms and acute and latent toxoplasmosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii ( T. gondii ). Whole blood samples of 161 COVID-19 patients with positive PCR. The samples were centrifuged to separate serum and screened for two important antibodies against T. gondii (IgM and IgG) by using ELISA kits for human anti- T. gondii IgM and IgG. Anti- T. gondii IgM and IgG antibodies were detected in 8/161 (5.0%) and 42/161 (26.1%) COVID-19 patients, respectively. No significant relationships were found between Toxoplasma IgM and IgG results with clinical signs, age, sex, contact with animals, comorbidities, and also the mortality rate of people with COVID-19. These findings showed that acute and latent toxoplasmosis infections are common among patients with COVID-19; however, no significant associations were found between toxoplasma infections and the symptoms of COVID-19. Therefore, toxoplasmosis is not considered a risk factor for COVID-19.

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Aggravation of cognitive impairments in the valproic acid‐induced animal model of autism in BALB/c mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii

Sheikhshoaee,

Taheri,

Esmaeilpour

et al. 2023

Intl J of Devlp Neuroscience

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PurposeToxoplasmosis is a disease caused by infection with a type of coccidial protozoan parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. The relationship between toxoplasmosis and cognitive disorders in neurodegenerative diseases has been proven. There is also evidence that children born to Toxoplasma‐infected mothers are more likely to develop autism.MethodsIn the present study, Toxoplasma‐infected pregnant BALB/c mice were given valproic acid to induce autism in their male offspring, and their social behaviors, learning, and memory were examined. Chronic toxoplasmosis was established in BALB/c mice by intraperitoneal injection of cyst form of T. gondii. To induce autism, 600 mg/kg of valproic acid was injected intraperitoneally into mice on the 12.5th day of pregnancy. The behavioral experiments, such as social interaction, novel object recognition, and passive avoidance tasks, were performed on male offspring at 50 days.ResultsToxoplasma and valproic acid during the embryonic period caused social communication deficits and disrupted recognition memory and avoidance memory in offspring. Our findings showed that administering valproic acid to Toxoplasma‐infected mothers exacerbates cognitive disorders in their offspring.

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Chronic Toxoplasma gondii Infection Potentiates Parkinson’s Disease Course in Mice Model

Cited by 6 publications

References 35 publications

β-Glucan alleviates goal-directed behavioral deficits in mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii

β-Glucan alleviates goal-directed behavioral deficits in mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii

Toxoplasmosis and symptoms severity in patients with COVID-19 in referral centers in Northern Iran

Aggravation of cognitive impairments in the valproic acid‐induced animal model of autism in BALB/c mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii

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