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Song G, Zhao Q, Chen H, Li M, Zhang Z, Qu Z, Yang C, Lin X, Ma W, Standlee CR. Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and cognitive functioning in older adults: an analysis of cross-sectional data of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2014. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e071513. [PMID: 38448067 PMCID: PMC10916126 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-071513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study sought to examine the relationship between Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and cognitive function in older adults. DESIGN An observational cross-sectional study. SETTING The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) study took place at participants' homes and mobile examination centres. PARTICIPANTS A total of 2956 older adults aged 60 and above from the NHANES from 2011 to 2014 were included in the study. Exposure of interest: participants had serum Toxoplasma gondii antibody analysed in the laboratory. A value>33 IU/mL was categorised as seropositive for Toxoplasma gondii infection; <27 IU/mL was categorised as seronegative for Toxoplasma gondii infection. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES Cognitive tests included the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease Word Learning subtest (CERAD-WL) for immediate and delayed memory, the Animal Fluency Test (AFT), and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). RESULTS About half of the 2956 participants (mean age 70.0) were female (51.0%), non-Hispanic White (48.3%), and completed some college or above (48.3%). A total of 703 participants were positive for Toxoplasma gondii infection (23.8%). Adjusted linear regression showed that compared with participants with negative Toxoplasma gondii infection, those with positive Toxoplasma gondii infection had lower CERAD-WL immediate memory (beta (β) -0.16, 95% CI -0.25 to -0.07), CERAD-WL delayed memory (β -0.15, 95% CI -0.24 to -0.06), AFT (β -0.15, 95% CI -0.24 to -0.06), DSST (β -0.34, 95% CI -0.43 to -0.26), and global cognition (β -0.24, 95% CI -0.32 to -0.16) z-scores after controlling for the covariates. CONCLUSIONS Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity is associated with worse immediate and delayed verbal learning, language proficiency, executive functioning, processing speed, sustained attention, working memory, as well as global cognition in older adults. Public health measures aiming at preventing Toxoplasma gondii infection may help preserve cognitive functioning in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ge Song
- College of Sciences and Technology, University of Houston Downtown, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Qingxia Zhao
- School of Nursing, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Hongyu Chen
- School of Nursing, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Meng Li
- Kentucky Department for Public Health, Infectious Disease Branch, Frankfort, Kentucky, USA
| | - Zeyu Zhang
- Institute for Hospital Management, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhe Qu
- Department of Pediatric Respiratory, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Chao Yang
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Xuechun Lin
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Weixia Ma
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
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2
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Getzmann S, Golka K, Bröde P, Reinders J, Kadhum T, Hengstler JG, Wascher E, Gajewski PD. Chronic Toxoplasma gondii Infection Modulates Hearing Ability across the Adult Life Span. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:194. [PMID: 38398703 PMCID: PMC10890099 DOI: 10.3390/life14020194] [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: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
While several studies have shown associations between hearing disorders and congenital toxoplasmosis, the present study investigated the impact of chronic, latent Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection on hearing loss. We used a regression analysis to explore whether latent T. gondii infection modulates changes in hearing thresholds over an age range from 20 to 70 years. We analyzed audiometric data of 162 T. gondii IgG-positive and 430 T. gondii-negative participants, collected in the Dortmund Vital Study (DVS, ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05155397), a prospective study on healthy cognitive aging. The regression analysis indicated that latent toxoplasmosis was associated with an accelerated development in hearing loss over the observed age range. Hearing loss was less frequent in IgG-positive than in IgG-negative participants up to the age of about 40 for a low (0.125-1 kHz)-frequency range. For high (2-8 kHz) frequencies, this pattern reversed for ages above 65 years. We discuss these findings on hearing function in the context of a recently proposed model, suggesting that latent toxoplasmosis can differentially affect brain functions across a lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Getzmann
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at TU Dortmund (IfADo), D-44139 Dortmund, Germany; (K.G.); (P.B.); (J.R.); (J.G.H.); (E.W.); (P.D.G.)
| | - Klaus Golka
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at TU Dortmund (IfADo), D-44139 Dortmund, Germany; (K.G.); (P.B.); (J.R.); (J.G.H.); (E.W.); (P.D.G.)
| | - Peter Bröde
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at TU Dortmund (IfADo), D-44139 Dortmund, Germany; (K.G.); (P.B.); (J.R.); (J.G.H.); (E.W.); (P.D.G.)
| | - Jörg Reinders
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at TU Dortmund (IfADo), D-44139 Dortmund, Germany; (K.G.); (P.B.); (J.R.); (J.G.H.); (E.W.); (P.D.G.)
| | - Thura Kadhum
- Clinic for Psychosomatic Rehabilitation, Mittelrhein-Klinik, D-56154 Boppard-Bad Salzig, Germany;
| | - Jan G. Hengstler
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at TU Dortmund (IfADo), D-44139 Dortmund, Germany; (K.G.); (P.B.); (J.R.); (J.G.H.); (E.W.); (P.D.G.)
| | - Edmund Wascher
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at TU Dortmund (IfADo), D-44139 Dortmund, Germany; (K.G.); (P.B.); (J.R.); (J.G.H.); (E.W.); (P.D.G.)
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Partner Site Bochum/Marburg, 44787 Bochum, Germany
| | - Patrick D. Gajewski
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at TU Dortmund (IfADo), D-44139 Dortmund, Germany; (K.G.); (P.B.); (J.R.); (J.G.H.); (E.W.); (P.D.G.)
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3
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Beydoun MA, Beydoun HA, Gale SD, Hedges D, Weiss J, Li Z, Erickson LD, Noren Hooten N, Launer LJ, Evans MK, Zonderman AB. Cardiovascular health, infection burden and their interactive association with brain volumetric and white matter integrity outcomes in the UK Biobank. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 113:91-103. [PMID: 37393057 PMCID: PMC11040741 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.06.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cardiovascular health is associated with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers of pathology and infections may modulate this association. METHODS Using data from 38,803 adults (aged 40-70 years) and followed-up for 5-15 years, we tested associations of prevalent total (47.5%) and hospital-treated infection burden (9.7%) with brain structural and diffusion-weighted MRI (i.e., sMRI and dMRI, respectively) common in dementia phenome. Poor white matter tissue integrity was operationalized with lower global and tract-specific fractional anisotropy (FA) and higher mean diffusivity (MD). Volumetric sMRI outcomes included total, gray matter (GM), white matter (WM), frontal bilateral GM, white matter hyperintensity (WMH), and selected based on previous associations with dementia. Cardiovascular health was measured with Life's Essential 8 score (LE8) converted to tertiles. Multiple linear regression models were used, adjusting for intracranial volumes (ICV) for subcortical structures, and for demographic, socio-economic, and the Alzheimer's Disease polygenic risk score for all outcomes, among potential confounders. RESULTS In fully adjusted models, hospital-treated infections were inversely related to GM (β ± SE: -1042 ± 379, p = 0.006) and directly related to WMH as percent of ICV (Loge transformed) (β ± SE:+0.026 ± 0.007, p < 0.001). Both total and hospital-treated infections were associated with poor WMI, while the latter was inversely related to FA within the lowest LE8 tertile (β ± SE:-0.0011 ± 0.0003, p < 0.001, PLE8×IB < 0.05), a pattern detected for GM, Right Frontal GM, left accumbens and left hippocampus volumes. Within the uppermost LE8 tertile, total infection burden was linked to smaller right amygdala while being associated with larger left frontal GM and right putamen volumes, in the overall sample. Within that uppermost tertile of LE8, caudate volumes were also positively associated with hospital-treated infections. CONCLUSIONS Hospital-treated infections had more consistent deleterious effects on volumetric and white matter integrity brain neuroimaging outcomes compared with total infectious burden, particularly in poorer cardiovascular health groups. Further studies are needed in comparable populations, including longitudinal studies with multiple repeats on neuroimaging markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- May A Beydoun
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, NIA/NIH/IRP, Baltimore, MD, United States.
| | - Hind A Beydoun
- Department of Research Programs, Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, Fort Belvoir, VA, United States
| | - Shawn D Gale
- Department of Psychology and the Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Dawson Hedges
- Department of Psychology and the Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Jordan Weiss
- Stanford Center on Longevity, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Zhiguang Li
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, NIA/NIH/IRP, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Lance D Erickson
- Department of Sociology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Nicole Noren Hooten
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, NIA/NIH/IRP, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Lenore J Launer
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, NIA/NIH/IRP, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Michele K Evans
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, NIA/NIH/IRP, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Alan B Zonderman
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, NIA/NIH/IRP, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Gholizadeh N, Dalimi A, Ghaffarifar F, Nader-Mohammadi M, Molavi P, Dadkhah M, Molaei S. Berberine improves inhibitory avoidance memory impairment of Toxoplasma gondii-infected rat model of ketamine-induced schizophrenia. BMC Complement Med Ther 2023; 23:303. [PMID: 37649038 PMCID: PMC10469906 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04107-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Memory impairment caused by Toxoplasma gondii infection has been documented. Berberine (BRB) is well known for its enhancing effects on memory and has shown promising results. However, the impact of BRB on T. gondii infection and schizophrenia-induced consolidation and reconsolidation memory impairment is still unclear. Here; we examined the effect of BRB on the inhibitory avoidance (IA) memory consolidation and reconsolidation impairment induced by T. gondii infection, and ketamine (Ket) as a pharmacological model of schizophrenia. Also; the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and hippocampus were analyzed. METHODS Rats were infected with T. gondii RH strain or received Ket (30 mg/kg/day) intraperitoneally (i.p) for at least five consecutive days (as the model of schizophrenia). Then followed by oral administration with BRB (25 mg/kg/day) for five days. Finally, the IA memory retention test was examined 48 post-conditioning, and BDNF was measured. RESULTS Results indicated IA memory impairment in T. gondii-infected animals since lower step-through latency (STL) was observed than in control animals. We found significant (P = 0.01, P = 0.001) elevations in STL and a significant decrease (P = 0.001) in total time spent in the dark area following BRB administration in infected and Ket-treated rats, indicating improvement (increased STL) in consolidation and reconsolidation memory. Moreover, BDNF levels were reduced (P = 0.01) in the hippocampus and mPFC regions of both T. gondii- infected and Ket-induced groups, which remarkably enhanced after BRB treatment. Furthermore; we found that BRB administration notably increased the mPFC BDNF levels in mPFC (P < 0.01) and hippocampus (P = 0.001) in the Ket-treated and rats infected with T. gondii. CONCLUSION Taken together; BRB may be a valuable preclinical treatment for improving memory impairment through BDNF expression in PFC and hippocampus, therefore; BRB is suggested for memory disturbances induced by T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neghin Gholizadeh
- Students Research Committee, Public Health School, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Abdolhossein Dalimi
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Ghaffarifar
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehryar Nader-Mohammadi
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Parviz Molavi
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Masoomeh Dadkhah
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.
| | - Soheila Molaei
- Zoonoses Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.
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5
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Bisetegn H, Debash H, Ebrahim H, Mahmood N, Gedefie A, Tilahun M, Alemayehu E, Mohammed O, Feleke DG. Global seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among patients with mental and neurological disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Health Sci Rep 2023; 6:e1319. [PMID: 37287705 PMCID: PMC10242185 DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.1319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim Toxoplasmosis is the most widespread zoonotic disease that affects one-third of the world's population, and imposes a major public health problem worldwide. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of toxoplasmosis among patients with neuropsychiatric patients. Methods Electronic databases PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Research Gate, and Scopus were thoroughly searched from February to March 2022 to identify all relevant studies. The quality of studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa quality scale for case-control and cross-sectional studies. Statistical analysis was done using STATA version 12 software. A random effect model was used to compute the global pooled seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection. Heterogeneity was quantified by using I 2 value. Subgroup analysis was done, and publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot and Egger's test. Result Of 1250 studies, 49 containing 21,093 participants and conducted in 18 countries were included. The global pooled seroprevalence of T. gondii IgG antibody was 38.27% (95% CI: 32.04-44.9) among neuropsychiatric patients and 25.31% (95% CI: 21.53-29.08) in healthy controls with substantial heterogeneity of 98.3%. The prevalence of T. gondii IgG antibody was higher in males (17.52%) than in females (12.35%) neuropsychiatric patients. The highest pooled prevalence of T. gondii IgG antibody was in Europe (57%) followed by Africa (45.25%) and Asia (43%). Time based analysis showed the highest pooled prevalence of T. gondii IgG antibody in 2012-2016 (41.16%).The global pooled seroprevalence T. gondii IgM antibody among neuropsychiatric patients and healthy controls was 6.78% (95% CI: 4.87-8.69) and 3.13% (95% CI: 2.02-4.24), respectively. Conclusion The pooled prevalence of chronic and acute T. gondii infection among neuropsychiatric patients was 38.27% and 6.78%, respectively. This showed a high burden of toxoplasmosis among neurological and psychiatric patients and urges routine screening of those patients and providing appropriate treatment. It also indicates the need for different stakeholders to develop targeted prevention and control strategies for T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Habtye Bisetegn
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health SciencesWollo UniversityDessieEthiopia
| | - Habtu Debash
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health SciencesWollo UniversityDessieEthiopia
| | - Hussen Ebrahim
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health SciencesWollo UniversityDessieEthiopia
| | | | - Alemu Gedefie
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health SciencesWollo UniversityDessieEthiopia
| | - Mihret Tilahun
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health SciencesWollo UniversityDessieEthiopia
| | - Ermiyas Alemayehu
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health SciencesWollo UniversityDessieEthiopia
| | - Ousman Mohammed
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health SciencesWollo UniversityDessieEthiopia
| | - Daniel Getacher Feleke
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, College of Health SciencesAddis Ababa UniversityAddis AbabaEthiopia
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Kruszon-Moran D, Brody D, Pearce B. Association of infection with Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara on cognitive function among US adults aged 60 and over, NHANES 2011-2014. J Epidemiol Community Health 2023; 77:315-321. [PMID: 36849240 PMCID: PMC10127138 DOI: 10.1136/jech-2022-219772] [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: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara are common parasites that infect humans globally. Our aim was to examine the relationship between T. gondii and Toxocara infection and cognition. METHODS Multivariate logistic regression was used to test the association of T. gondii and Toxocara seropositivity on indices of cognitive function (a word list learning trial with delayed recall from the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease, an animal fluency test (AFT) and a digit symbol substitution test (DSST)) among 2643 adults aged 60 years and older in the 2011-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. RESULTS Seropositivity to T. gondii or Toxocara were both associated with lower scores in all three cognitive function measures examined in univariate analyses. Except for the DSST, these associations were not significant after adjustment for age, gender, race and Hispanic origin, poverty level, education, US birth status, depression and hypertension. On stratification to account for significant interactions, Toxocara seropositivity was associated with worse scores on the AFT among those born outside the USA, worse scores on the DSST among those aged 60-69 years, female, Hispanic and with a high school diploma or less. Lower DSST scores with Toxocara infection was greater for adults living below compared with at or above the poverty level. CONCLUSIONS Seropositivity to these parasites, particularly to Toxocara, may be associated with diminished cognitive performance in certain subgroups of older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deanna Kruszon-Moran
- National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, Maryland, USA
| | - Debra Brody
- National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, Maryland, USA
| | - Bradley Pearce
- Department of Epidemiology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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7
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Tedford E, Badya NB, Laing C, Asaoka N, Kaneko S, Filippi BM, McConkey GA. Infection-induced extracellular vesicles evoke neuronal transcriptional and epigenetic changes. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6913. [PMID: 37106020 PMCID: PMC10140046 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34074-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection with the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii induces changes in neurotransmission, neuroinflammation, and behavior, yet it remains elusive how these changes come about. In this study we investigated how norepinephrine levels are altered by infection. TINEV (Toxoplasma-induced neuronal extracellular vesicles) isolated from infected noradrenergic cells down-regulated dopamine ß-hydroxylase (DBH) gene expression in human and rodent cells. Here we report that intracerebral injection of TINEVs into the brain is sufficient to induce DBH down-regulation and distrupt catecholaminergic signalling. Further, TINEV treatment induced hypermethylation upstream of the DBH gene. An antisense lncRNA to DBH was found in purified TINEV preparations. Paracrine signalling to induce transcriptional gene silencing and DNA methylation may be a common mode to regulate neurologic function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Tedford
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Norhidayah Binti Badya
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Conor Laing
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Nozomi Asaoka
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, 46-29 Yoshida-Shimoadachi-Cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Shuji Kaneko
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, 46-29 Yoshida-Shimoadachi-Cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Beatrice Maria Filippi
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Glenn Alan McConkey
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
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8
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Tao Q, Yang D, Qin K, Liu L, Jin M, Zhang F, Zhu J, Wang J, Luo Q, Du J, Yu L, Shen J, Chu D. Studies on the mechanism of Toxoplasma gondii Chinese 1 genotype Wh6 strain causing mice abnormal cognitive behavior. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:30. [PMID: 36698166 PMCID: PMC9875435 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05618-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease presents an abnormal cognitive behavior. TgCtwh6 is one of the predominant T. gondii strains prevalent in China. Although T. gondii type II strain infection can cause host cognitive behavioral abnormalities, we do not know whether TgCtwh6 could also cause host cognitive behavioral changes. So, in this study, we will focus on the effect of TgCtwh6 on mouse cognitive behavior and try in vivo and in vitro to explore the underlying mechanism by which TgCtwh6 give rise to mice cognitive behavior changes at the cellular and molecular level. METHODS C57BL/6 mice were infected orally with TgCtwh6 cysts. From day 90 post-infection on, all mice were conducted through the open field test and then Morris water maze test to evaluate cognitive behavior. The morphology and number of cells in hippocampus were examined with hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and Nissl staining; moreover, Aβ protein in hippocampus was determined with immunohistochemistry and thioflavin S plaque staining. Synaptotagmin 1, apoptosis-related proteins, BACE1 and APP proteins and genes from hippocampus were assessed by western blotting or qRT-PCR. Hippocampal neuronal cell line or mouse microglial cell line was challenged with TgCtwh6 tachyzoites and then separately cultured in a well or co-cultured in a transwell device. The target proteins and genes were analyzed by immunofluorescence staining, western blotting and qRT-PCR. In addition, mouse microglial cell line polarization state and hippocampal neuronal cell line apoptosis were estimated using flow cytometry assay. RESULTS The OFT and MWMT indicated that infected mice had cognitive behavioral impairments. The hippocampal tissue assay showed abnormal neuron morphology and a decreased number in infected mice. Moreover, pro-apoptotic proteins, as well as BACE1, APP and Aβ proteins, increased in the infected mouse hippocampus. The experiments in vitro showed that pro-apoptotic proteins and p-NF-κBp65, NF-κBp65, BACE1, APP and Aβ proteins or genes were significantly increased in the infected HT22. In addition, CD80, pro-inflammatory factors, notch, hes1 proteins and genes were enhanced in the infected BV2. Interestingly, not only the APP and pro-apoptotic proteins in HT22, but also the apoptosis rate of HT22 increased after the infected BV2 were co-cultured with the HT22 in a transwell device. CONCLUSIONS Neuron apoptosis, Aβ deposition and neuroinflammatory response involved with microglia polarization are the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which TgCtwh6 causes mouse cognitive behavioral abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Tao
- grid.186775.a0000 0000 9490 772XDepartment of Pathogen Biology, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Microbiology & Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Di Yang
- grid.186775.a0000 0000 9490 772XDepartment of Pathogen Biology, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Microbiology & Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Kunpeng Qin
- grid.412679.f0000 0004 1771 3402Department of Orthopaedics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui, China
| | - Lei Liu
- grid.59053.3a0000000121679639Department of Blood Transfusion, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Mengmeng Jin
- grid.186775.a0000 0000 9490 772XMaternity and Child Health Hospital of Anhui Province, The Affiliated Maternity and Child Health Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Famin Zhang
- grid.186775.a0000 0000 9490 772XDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jinjin Zhu
- grid.186775.a0000 0000 9490 772XDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jie Wang
- grid.186775.a0000 0000 9490 772XDepartment of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Qingli Luo
- grid.186775.a0000 0000 9490 772XDepartment of Pathogen Biology, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Microbiology & Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jian Du
- grid.186775.a0000 0000 9490 772XDepartment of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Li Yu
- grid.186775.a0000 0000 9490 772XDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jilong Shen
- grid.186775.a0000 0000 9490 772XDepartment of Pathogen Biology, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Microbiology & Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Deyong Chu
- grid.186775.a0000 0000 9490 772XDepartment of Pathogen Biology, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Microbiology & Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
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9
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Effects of diverse Types of Toxoplasma gondii on the outcome of Alzheimer's disease in the rat model. Microb Pathog 2023; 174:105931. [PMID: 36473668 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105931] [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: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii has lifelong persistence in the brain and its cysts can affect gene expression and change diverse biological functions of neurons. Many studies indicated T. gondii infection as a risk factor for the development of behavioral changes and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), although the etiopathogenetic link between them has not been exactly elucidated. The current study aimed to examine the effects of chronic toxoplasmosis infection with Types I, II, and III strains (RH, PRU, and VEG) alone and in combination on cognitive impairments and neuronal death in the Aβ1-42-induced rat model of Alzheimer's disease. In the chronic toxoplasmosis phase, Alzheimer's induction was conducted by injecting Aβ1-42 oligomers into the rat brain hippocampus. Behavioral tests were conducted 10 days after the AD induction. Real-time PCR was performed to evaluate T. gondii parasite burden by amplification of the B1 gene. Cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-10 were assayed in brain tissue supernatant using ELISA. Also, histopathological examinations were conducted to calculate inflammatory changes and neuronal death in the brain. Our findings showed that chronic toxoplasmosis infection with PRU reduces cognitive disorders, while the RH strain of T. gondii plays a destructive role and aggravates cognitive impairments in AD. Also, infection with a combination of PRU and VEG strains significantly improved spatial learning and memory impairments in Alzheimer's rat model. Histopathological findings also confirmed the results of behavioral tests, so that in AβPRU and AβPRU + VEG groups, neuronal death and infiltration of inflammatory cells were negligible and significantly less than in Alzheimer's and AβRH groups. Our findings indicate that chronic toxoplasmosis infection with PRU strain alone, also in combination with VEG strain can significantly improve cognitive disorders in AD rats, while RH strain plays a destructive role in AD pathogenesis.
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10
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Veleva I, Stoychev K, Stoimenova-Popova M, Stoyanov L, Mineva-Dimitrova E, Angelov I. Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and cognitive function in adults with schizophrenia. Schizophr Res Cogn 2022; 30:100269. [PMID: 36065435 PMCID: PMC9440062 DOI: 10.1016/j.scog.2022.100269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Introduction and methods Based on the limited research focusing on the severity of cognitive deterioration in schizophrenia with preceding toxoplasmosis, we sampled 89 demographically matched paranoid schizophrenia patients (mean age 38.97 years) with (n = 42) and without (n = 47) seroprevalence of IgG type anti T. gondii antibodies as marker of past infection. They underwent examination of verbal memory (10 words Luria test), logical memory and visual memory (BVRT), processing speed (TMT-A/DSST) and executive functions (TMT-B/verbal fluency). We compared the results of both groups, taking into account the normative values for the Bulgarian population where available. We also compared the two groups in terms of clinical severity as evidenced by positive, negative and disorganization sub-scores of the PANSS. Results While both groups were expectedly under the population norms for verbal and logical memory, seropositive patients showed significantly bigger impairment in verbal memory (Luria Smax = 72.85 vs 78.51; p = 0.029), psychomotor speed (TMT-A 50.98 s vs 44.64 s; p = 0.017), semantic verbal fluency (27.12 vs 30.02; p = 0.011) and literal verbal fluency (17.17 vs 18.78; p = 0.014) compared to the seronegative ones. In addition to that, they gave less correct answers on the BVRT (2.98 vs 4.09; p = 0.006) while making markedly more errors (13.95 vs 10.21; p = 0.002). Despite not reaching statistical significance, past toxoplasmosis was associated with higher score on the PANSS disorganization sub-scale (16.50 points vs 14.72 points) and with lower educational attainment. Conclusion Our results suggest a more profound neuropathological insult(s) resulting in greater cognitive impairment in schizophrenia cases that are exposed to T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivanka Veleva
- Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Medical University Pleven, Bulgaria
| | - Kaloyan Stoychev
- Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Medical University Pleven, Bulgaria
| | | | - Lyudmil Stoyanov
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology, Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Medical University Pleven, Bulgaria
| | | | - Ivelin Angelov
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology, Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Medical University Pleven, Bulgaria
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11
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Huffman AM, Ayariga JA, Napier A, Robertson BK, Abugri DA. Inhibition of Toxoplasma gondii Growth by Dihydroquinine and Its Mechanisms of Action. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:852889. [PMID: 35646733 PMCID: PMC9131874 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.852889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite that infects the brain of humans and causes cerebral toxoplasmosis. The recommended drugs for the treatment or prophylaxis of toxoplasmosis are pyrimethamine (PY) and sulfadiazine (SZ), which have serious side effects. Other drugs available for toxoplasmosis are poorly tolerated. Dihydroquinine (DHQ) is a compound closely related to quinine-based drugs that have been shown to inhibit Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium berghei in addition to its anti-arrhythmia properties. However, little is known about the effect of DHQ in T. gondii growth and its mechanism of action in vitro. In this study, we report the anti-Toxoplasma and anti-invasion properties of DHQ. DHQ significantly inhibited T. gondii tachyzoite growth with IC50s values of 0.63, 0.67, and 0.00137 µM at 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. Under similar conditions, SZ and PY, considered as the gold standard drugs for the treatment of toxoplasmosis, had IC50s values of 1.29, 1.55, and 0.95 and 3.19, 3.52, and 2.42 µM, respectively. The rapid dose-dependent inhibition of T. gondii tachyzoites by DHQ compared to the standard drugs (SZ and PY) indicates that DHQ has high selective parasiticidal effects against tachyzoite proliferation. Remarkably, DHQ had an excellent selectivity index (SI) of 149- and 357-fold compared to 24- and 143-fold for PY and SZ, respectively, using fibroblast cells. In addition, DHQ disrupted T. gondii tachyzoite mitochondrial membrane potential and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production and elicited high reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Taking all these findings together, DHQ promises to be an effective and safe lead for the treatment of toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aarin M. Huffman
- Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, United States
| | - Joseph A. Ayariga
- Department of Biological Sciences, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, United States
- Biomedical Engineering Program, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, United States
| | - Audrey Napier
- Department of Biological Sciences, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, United States
| | - Boakai K. Robertson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, United States
- Microbiology PhD Program, College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Montgomery, AL, United States
| | - Daniel A. Abugri
- Department of Biological Sciences, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, United States
- Microbiology PhD Program, College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Montgomery, AL, United States
- Laboratory of Ethnomedicine, Parasitology, and Drug Discovery, College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Montgomery, AL, United States
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12
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Debrot AO, Ruijter MNM, Endarwin W, Hooft P, Wulf K, Delnevo AJ. A renewed call for conservation leadership 10 years further in the feral cat
Trap‐Neuter‐Return
debate and new opportunities for constructive dialogue. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Adolphe O. Debrot
- Marine Animal Ecology Group Wageningen University and Research Wageningen The Netherlands
- Wageningen Marine Research Wageningen University and Research Den Helder The Netherlands
| | - Martin N. M. Ruijter
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group Wageningen University and Research Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Wempy Endarwin
- Department of Forestry Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Indonesia Jakarta Indonesia
| | - Pim Hooft
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group Wageningen University and Research Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Kai Wulf
- Saba Conservation Foundation The Bottom Saba The Netherlands
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13
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Gajewski PD, Getzmann S, Bröde P, Burke M, Cadenas C, Capellino S, Claus M, Genç E, Golka K, Hengstler JG, Kleinsorge T, Marchan R, Nitsche MA, Reinders J, van Thriel C, Watzl C, Wascher E. Impact of biological and lifestyle factors on cognitive aging and work ability in the Dortmund Vital Study: Protocol of an interdisciplinary, cross-sectional, and longitudinal study (Preprint). JMIR Res Protoc 2021; 11:e32352. [PMID: 35285810 PMCID: PMC8961345 DOI: 10.2196/32352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick D Gajewski
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo) at the Technical University of Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Stephan Getzmann
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo) at the Technical University of Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Peter Bröde
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo) at the Technical University of Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Michael Burke
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo) at the Technical University of Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Cristina Cadenas
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo) at the Technical University of Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Silvia Capellino
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo) at the Technical University of Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Maren Claus
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo) at the Technical University of Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Erhan Genç
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo) at the Technical University of Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Klaus Golka
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo) at the Technical University of Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Jan G Hengstler
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo) at the Technical University of Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Thomas Kleinsorge
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo) at the Technical University of Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Rosemarie Marchan
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo) at the Technical University of Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Michael A Nitsche
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo) at the Technical University of Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Jörg Reinders
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo) at the Technical University of Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Christoph van Thriel
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo) at the Technical University of Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Carsten Watzl
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo) at the Technical University of Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Edmund Wascher
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo) at the Technical University of Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
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14
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de Haan L, Sutterland AL, Schotborgh JV, Schirmbeck F, de Haan L. Association of Toxoplasma gondii Seropositivity With Cognitive Function in Healthy People: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry 2021; 78:1103-1112. [PMID: 34259822 PMCID: PMC8281022 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2021.1590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The parasite Toxoplasma gondii has been associated with behavioral alterations and psychiatric disorders. Studies investigating neurocognition in people with T gondii infection have reported varying results. To systematically analyze these findings, a meta-analysis evaluating cognitive function in healthy people with and without T gondii seropositivity is needed. OBJECTIVE To assess whether and to what extent T gondii seropositivity is associated with cognitive function in otherwise healthy people. DATA SOURCES A systematic search was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) reporting guideline. A systematic search of PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, PsycInfo, and Embase was performed to identify studies from database inception to June 7, 2019, that analyzed cognitive function among healthy participants with available data on T gondii seropositivity. Search terms included toxoplasmosis, neurotoxoplasmosis, Toxoplasma gondii, cognition disorder, neuropsychological, and psychomotor performance. STUDY SELECTION Studies that performed cognitive assessment and analyzed T gondii seroprevalence among otherwise healthy participants were included. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS Two researchers independently extracted data from published articles; if needed, authors were contacted to provide additional data. Quantitative syntheses were performed in predefined cognitive domains when 4 independent data sets per domain were available. Study quality, heterogeneity, and publication bias were assessed. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Performance on neuropsychological tests measuring cognitive function. RESULTS The systematic search yielded 1954 records. After removal of 533 duplicates, an additional 1363 records were excluded based on a review of titles and abstracts. A total of 58 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility (including reference list screening); 45 articles were excluded because they lacked important data or did not meet study inclusion or reference list criteria. The remaining 13 studies comprising 13 289 healthy participants (mean [SD] age, 46.7 [16.0] years; 6586 men [49.6%]) with and without T gondii seropositivity were included in the meta-analysis. Participants without T gondii seropositivity had favorable functioning in 4 cognitive domains: processing speed (standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.12; 95% CI, 0.05-0.19; P = .001), working memory (SMD, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.06-0.26; P = .002), short-term verbal memory (SMD, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.09-0.27; P < .001), and executive functioning (SMD, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.01-0.28; P = .03). A meta-regression analysis found a significant association between older age and executive functioning (Q = 6.17; P = .01). Little suggestion of publication bias was detected. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The study's findings suggested that T gondii seropositivity was associated with mild cognitive impairment in several cognitive domains. Although effect sizes were small, given the ubiquitous prevalence of this infection globally, the association with cognitive impairment could imply a considerable adverse effect at the population level. Further research is warranted to investigate the underlying mechanisms of this association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lies de Haan
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Arjen L. Sutterland
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jasper V. Schotborgh
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Frederike Schirmbeck
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Lieuwe de Haan
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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15
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Gale SD, Erickson LD, Brown BL, Hedges DW. Examining the Relationship between Toxoplasma gondii and Seropositivity and Serointensity and Depression in Adults from the United Kingdom and the United States: A Cross-Sectional Study. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10091101. [PMID: 34578136 PMCID: PMC8470860 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10091101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Infecting approximately one-third of the world’s population, the neurotropic protozoan Toxoplasma gondii has been associated with cognition and several neuropsychiatric diseases including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Findings have been mixed, however, about the relationship between Toxoplasma gondii and depression, with some studies reporting positive associations and others finding no associations. To further investigate the association between Toxoplasma gondii and depression, we used data from the UK Biobank and the National Health and Examination Survey (NHANES). Results from adjusted multiple-regression modeling showed no significant associations between Toxoplasma gondii and depression in either the UK Biobank or NHANES datasets. Further, we found no significant interactions between Toxoplasma gondii and age, sex, educational attainment, and income in either dataset that affected the association between Toxoplasma gondii and depression. These results from two community-based datasets suggest that in these samples, Toxoplasma gondii is not associated with depression. Differences between our findings and other findings showing an association between Toxoplasma gondii and depression could be due to several factors including differences in socioeconomic variables, differences in Toxoplasma gondii strain, and use of different covariates in statistical modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn D. Gale
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA; (B.L.B.); (D.W.H.)
- The Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-801-422-9757
| | - Lance D. Erickson
- Department of Sociology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA;
| | - Bruce L. Brown
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA; (B.L.B.); (D.W.H.)
| | - Dawson W. Hedges
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA; (B.L.B.); (D.W.H.)
- The Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
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16
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Yang HY, Chien WC, Chung CH, Su RY, Lai CY, Yang CC, Tzeng NS. Risk of dementia in patients with toxoplasmosis: a nationwide, population-based cohort study in Taiwan. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:435. [PMID: 34454590 PMCID: PMC8401101 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04928-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Approximately 25–30% of individuals worldwide are infected with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), which is difficult to detect in its latent state. We aimed to evaluate the association between toxoplasmosis, the risk of dementia, and the effects of antibiotics in Taiwan. Methods This nationwide, population-based, retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database containing the records of 2 million individuals retrieved from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database. Fine–Gray competing risk analysis was used to determine the risk for the development of dementia in the toxoplasmosis cohort relative to the non-toxoplasmosis cohort. A sensitivity analysis was also conducted. The effects of antibiotics (sulfadiazine or clindamycin) on the risk of dementia were also analyzed. Results We enrolled a total of 800 subjects, and identified 200 patients with toxoplasmosis and 600 sex- and age-matched controls without toxoplasmosis infection in a ratio of 1:3, selected between 2000 and 2015. The crude hazard ratio (HR) of the risk of developing dementia was 2.570 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.511–4.347, P < 0.001]. After adjusting for sex, age, monthly insurance premiums, urbanization level, geographical region, and comorbidities, the adjusted HR was 2.878 (95% CI = 1.709–4.968, P < 0.001). Sensitivity analysis revealed that toxoplasmosis was associated with the risk of dementia even after excluding diagnosis in the first year and the first 5 years. The usage of sulfadiazine or clindamycin in the treatment of toxoplasmosis was associated with a decreased risk of dementia. Conclusions This finding supports the evidence that toxoplasmosis is associated with dementia and that antibiotic treatment against toxoplasmosis is associated with a reduced risk of dementia. Further studies are necessary to explore the underlying mechanisms of these associations. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-04928-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung-Yi Yang
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wu-Chien Chien
- Department of Medical Research, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.,School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.,Taiwanese Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Association, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Hsiang Chung
- Department of Medical Research, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.,School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.,Taiwanese Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Association, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ruei-Yu Su
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Yu Lai
- Graduate Institute of Aerospace and Undersea Medicine, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chuan-Chi Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Department of Psychiatry, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Nian-Sheng Tzeng
- Department of Psychiatry, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan. .,Student Counseling Center, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
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17
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Hodge JM, Coghill AE, Kim Y, Bender N, Smith-Warner SA, Gapstur S, Teras LR, Grimsrud TK, Waterboer T, Egan KM. Toxoplasma gondii infection and the risk of adult glioma in two prospective studies. Int J Cancer 2021; 148:2449-2456. [PMID: 33427315 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.33443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T gondii) is a common parasite that shows affinity to neural tissue and may lead to the formation of cysts in the brain. Previous epidemiologic studies have suggested an association between glioma and increased prevalence of T gondii infection, but prospective studies are lacking. Therefore, we examined the association between prediagnostic T gondii antibodies and risk of glioma in two prospective cohorts using a nested case-control study design. Cases and matched controls were selected from the American Cancer Society's Cancer Prevention Study-II Nutrition Cohort (CPSII-NC) (n = 37 cases and 74 controls) and the Norwegian Cancer Registry's Janus Serum Bank (Janus) (n = 323 cases and 323 controls). Blood samples collected prior to diagnosis were analyzed for antibodies to two T gondii surface antigens (p22 and sag-1), with individuals considered seropositive if antibodies to either antigen were detected. Conditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for each cohort. In both cohorts, a suggestive increase in glioma risk was observed among those infected with T gondii (OR: 2.70; 95% CI: 0.96-7.62 for CPSII-NC; OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 0.85-2.07 for Janus), particularly among participants with high antibody titers specific to the sag-1 antigen (CPSII-NC OR: 3.35, 95% CI: 0.99-11.38; Janus OR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.02-3.14). Our findings provide the first prospective evidence of an association between T gondii infection and risk of glioma. Further studies with larger case numbers are needed to confirm a potential etiologic role for T gondii in glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- James M Hodge
- Department of Population Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Anna E Coghill
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Youngchul Kim
- Department of Biostatistics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Noemi Bender
- Infections and Cancer Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stephanie A Smith-Warner
- Department of Nutrition and Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Susan Gapstur
- Department of Population Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Lauren R Teras
- Department of Population Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Tom K Grimsrud
- Department of Research, Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tim Waterboer
- Infections and Cancer Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kathleen M Egan
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
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18
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Gupta Y, Goicoechea S, Pearce CM, Mathur R, Romero JG, Kwofie SK, Weyenberg MC, Daravath B, Sharma N, Poonam, Akala HM, Kanzok SM, Durvasula R, Rathi B, Kempaiah P. The emerging paradigm of calcium homeostasis as a new therapeutic target for protozoan parasites. Med Res Rev 2021; 42:56-82. [PMID: 33851452 DOI: 10.1002/med.21804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Calcium channels (CCs), a group of ubiquitously expressed membrane proteins, are involved in many pathophysiological processes of protozoan parasites. Our understanding of CCs in cell signaling, organelle function, cellular homeostasis, and cell cycle control has led to improved insights into their structure and functions. In this article, we discuss CCs characteristics of five major protozoan parasites Plasmodium, Leishmania, Toxoplasma, Trypanosoma, and Cryptosporidium. We provide a comprehensive review of current antiparasitic drugs and the potential of using CCs as new therapeutic targets. Interestingly, previous studies have demonstrated that human CC modulators can kill or sensitize parasites to antiparasitic drugs. Still, none of the parasite CCs, pumps, or transporters has been validated as drug targets. Information for this review draws from extensive data mining of genome sequences, chemical library screenings, and drug design studies. Parasitic resistance to currently approved therapeutics is a serious and emerging threat to both disease control and management efforts. In this article, we suggest that the disruption of calcium homeostasis may be an effective approach to develop new anti-parasite drug candidates and reduce parasite resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yash Gupta
- Infectious Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, 32224, USA
| | - Steven Goicoechea
- Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Catherine M Pearce
- Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Raman Mathur
- Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jesus G Romero
- Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Samuel K Kwofie
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Sciences, College of Basic & Applied Sciences, West African Center for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, College of Basic & Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Matthew C Weyenberg
- Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Bharathi Daravath
- Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Neha Sharma
- Department of Chemistry, Hansraj College University Enclave, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Poonam
- Department of Chemistry, Miranda House University Enclave, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | | | - Stefan M Kanzok
- Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Ravi Durvasula
- Infectious Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, 32224, USA
| | - Brijesh Rathi
- Department of Chemistry, Hansraj College University Enclave, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
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19
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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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20
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Association between Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and serointensity and brain volume in adults: A cross-sectional study. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0245994. [PMID: 33544748 PMCID: PMC7864421 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The intracellular protozoal parasite Toxoplasma gondii has been associated with worsened cognitive function in animal models and in humans. Despite these associations, the mechanisms by which Toxoplasma gondii might affect cognitive function remain unknown, although Toxoplasma gondii does produce physiologically active intraneuronal cysts and appears to affect dopamine synthesis. Using data from the UK Biobank, we sought to determine whether Toxoplasma gondii is associated with decreased prefrontal, hippocampal, and thalamic gray-matter volumes and with decreased total gray-matter and total white-matter volumes in an adult community-based sample. The results from adjusted multivariable regression modelling showed no associations between Toxoplasma gondii and prefrontal, hippocampal, and thalamic brain gray-matter volumes. In contrast, natural-log transformed antibody levels against the Toxoplasma gondii p22 (b = -3960, 95-percent confidence interval, -6536 to -1383, p < .01) and sag1 (b = -4863, 95-percent confidence interval, –8301 to -1425, p < .01) antigens were associated with smaller total gray-matter volume, as was the mean of natural-log transformed p22 and sag1 titers (b = -6141, 95-percent confidence interval, -9886 to -2397, p < .01). There were no associations between any of the measures of Toxoplasma gondii and total white-matter volume. These findings suggest that Toxoplasma gondii might be associated with decreased total gray-matter in middle-aged and older middle-aged adults in a community-based sample from the United Kingdom.
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21
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Johnson SK, Johnson PTJ. Toxoplasmosis: Recent Advances in Understanding the Link Between Infection and Host Behavior. Annu Rev Anim Biosci 2020; 9:249-264. [PMID: 33138620 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-animal-081720-111125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Humans, wildlife, and domestic animals are intimately linked through shared infections. Many parasites and pathogens use multiple host species, either opportunistically or sequentially, such that managing disease risk frequently requires a broader understanding of the ecological community. The coccidian protozoan Toxoplasma gondii infects more than one hundred species of vertebrates, ranging from bats to beluga whales. In humans, acute toxoplasmosis can have serious health consequences for immunocompromised individuals. Even amongst asymptomatic patients, however, toxoplasmosis has been linked to a range of behavioral alterations and conditions, such as changes in risk tolerance, neuroticism, mental illness, suicide, and accident proneness. Whether such links are causal or simply correlational has been the subject of intense study and debate; from an evolutionary standpoint, selection may favor parasite-induced alterations in host behavior that increase the likelihood a host is consumed by the definitive host-in this case a domestic or wild felid. Here, we examine current evidence for parasite-induced manipulations of host behavior, in both humans and other animals. We critically evaluate proposed mechanisms through which infection might influence host behavior, which range from inflammation in the brain to changes in hormones or neurotransmitters. Considering estimates that T. gondii may infect up to one-third of the global human population, we conclude by examining the implications of these changes for human behavior, individual fitness, and emergent cultural properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie K Johnson
- Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA;
| | - Pieter T J Johnson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
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22
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Gale SD, Erickson LD, Thacker EL, Mitchell EL, Brown BL, Hedges DW. Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and serointensity and cognitive function in adults. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008733. [PMID: 33057346 PMCID: PMC7561134 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Infecting approximately one-third of the world's human population, Toxoplasma gondii has been associated with cognitive function. Here, we sought to further characterize the association between Toxoplasma gondii and cognitive function in a community sample of adults aged approximately 40 to70 years. Using adjusted linear regression models, we found associations of Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity with worse reasoning (b = -.192, p < .05) and matrix pattern completion (b = -.681, p < .01), of higher anti-Toxoplasma gondii p22 antibody levels with worse reasoning (b = -.078, p < .01) and slower Trails (numeric) performance (b = 5.962, p < .05), of higher anti-Toxoplasma gondii sag1 levels with worse reasoning (b = -.081, p < .05) and worse matrix pattern completion (b = -.217, p < .05), and of higher mean of the anti-Toxoplasma gondii p22 and sag1 levels with worse reasoning (b = -.112, p < .05), slower Trails (numeric) performance (b = 9.195, p < .05), and worse matrix pattern completion (b = -.245, p < .05). Neither age nor educational attainment moderated associations between the measures of Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity or serointensity. Sex, however, moderated the association between the sag1 titer and digit-symbol substitution and the association between the mean of the p22 and sag1 levels and digit-symbol substitution, and income moderated the association between Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and numeric memory and the association between the p22 level and symbol-digit substitution. Based on the available neuropsychological tasks in this study, Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and serointensity were associated with some aspects of poorer executive function in adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn D. Gale
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
- The Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Evan L. Thacker
- Department of Public Health, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
| | | | - Bruce L. Brown
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
| | - Dawson W. Hedges
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
- The Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
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23
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Wiener RC, Waters C, Bhandari R. The association of Toxoplasma gondii IgG and cognitive function scores: NHANES 2013-2014. Parasitol Int 2020; 78:102123. [PMID: 32416258 PMCID: PMC7879586 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2020.102123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) causes chronic, latent infections of global concern. Its subclinical influence on behavior and cognition are poorly understood. The objective of this research is to determine the relationship of T. gondii IgG with cognition using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, 2013-2014 in older adults ≥60 years. A composite cognitive function score was created by adding the scores of the memory test, language/verbal fluency, and working memory test. T. gondii IgG was dichotomized at <33 IU/mL (negative) and ≥33 IU/mL (positive). There were 19.2% of the participants who were T. gondii IgG+. The memory function and language/verbal fluency subtests failed to reach significance; however, the difference in the working memory test was significant. In the multivariable ordinal logistic regression analysis, controlling for potential confounders, the odds of cognitive function scores decreasing in quartiles among people with positive vs. negative T. gondii IgG are 1.55 (95% CI: 1.08, 2.21; p = .0170). Establishing an evidence base for the association of T. gondii IgG and cognition is complex, but essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Constance Wiener
- West Virginia University, Department of Dental Practice and Rural Health, School of Dentistry, 104a Health Sciences Addition, PO Box 9415, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States of America.
| | - Christopher Waters
- West Virginia University, Department of Dental Research, School of Dentistry, 106a Health Sciences Addition, PO Box 9448, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States of America.
| | - Ruchi Bhandari
- West Virginia University, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Robert C Byrd Health Sciences Center North, Room G104C, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States of America.
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24
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Jiang H, Zhai T, Yu Y, Li X, Gong P, Zhang X, Li G, Li J. Delayed IL-12 production by macrophages during Toxoplasma gondii infection is regulated by miR-187. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:1023-1033. [PMID: 32065264 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-019-06588-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/22/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an important zoonotic protozoan worldwide which infects most of warm-blooded mammals and birds, including human, and cause toxoplasmosis. As an intracellular parasite, T. gondii must evade host immune surveillance, such as IL-12 and IFN-γ, in order to survive and multiply in macrophages and other host cells. By delaying IL-12 secretion of host macrophages within 24 h after infection, T. gondii ensures not only self-survival but also the establishment of chronic infection of host cells. MicroRNA plays an important role in regulating gene transcription and translation. The mechanisms of IL-12 production during T. gondii infection are still unknown. Thus, understanding how the parasites manipulate IL-12 production by host macrophage is critical for the effective prevention and therapy of T. gondii infection. In the present study, regulation of delayed macrophage IL-12 production during T. gondii infection was explored. We found that the production of IL-12 after T. gondii infection was inhibited during the first 24 h and then resumed. The expression pattern of miR-187 production was consistent with the production pattern of IL-12 during T. gondii infection. The downregulation of miR-187 promoted Akt and P65 phosphorylation and delayed IL-12 production at late stage (after 24 h) of T. gondii infection. Dual-luciferase reporter assay indicated that MiR-187 targeted the NFKBIZ gene. Our results suggested that the delayed IL-12 production in mouse macrophages during T. gondii infection was regulated by miR-187.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education; College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, 5333 Xian Road, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Tao Zhai
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education; College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, 5333 Xian Road, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Yanhui Yu
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education; College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, 5333 Xian Road, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Xin Li
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education; College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, 5333 Xian Road, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Pengtao Gong
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education; College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, 5333 Xian Road, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Xichen Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education; College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, 5333 Xian Road, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Guojiang Li
- Jilin Agricultural Science and Technology University, Jilin, China.
| | - Jianhua Li
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education; College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, 5333 Xian Road, Changchun, 130062, China. .,Jilin Agricultural Science and Technology University, Jilin, China.
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25
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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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26
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Aguirre AA, Longcore T, Barbieri M, Dabritz H, Hill D, Klein PN, Lepczyk C, Lilly EL, McLeod R, Milcarsky J, Murphy CE, Su C, VanWormer E, Yolken R, Sizemore GC. The One Health Approach to Toxoplasmosis: Epidemiology, Control, and Prevention Strategies. ECOHEALTH 2019; 16:378-390. [PMID: 30945159 PMCID: PMC6682582 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-019-01405-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
One Health is a collaborative, interdisciplinary effort that seeks optimal health for people, animals, plants, and the environment. Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is an intracellular protozoan infection distributed worldwide, with a heteroxenous life cycle that practically affects all homeotherms and in which felines act as definitive reservoirs. Herein, we review the natural history of T. gondii, its transmission and impacts in humans, domestic animals, wildlife both terrestrial and aquatic, and ecosystems. The epidemiology, prevention, and control strategies are reviewed, with the objective of facilitating awareness of this disease and promoting transdisciplinary collaborations, integrative research, and capacity building among universities, government agencies, NGOs, policy makers, practicing physicians, veterinarians, and the general public.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Alonso Aguirre
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, 4400 University Dr. MSN: 5F2, Fairfax, VA, 22030-4400, USA.
| | - Travis Longcore
- Spatial Sciences Institute, University of Southern California, 3616 Trousdale Parkway, AHF B55, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Michelle Barbieri
- NMFS/PIFSC/PSD/Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176, Honolulu, HI, 96818, USA
| | - Haydee Dabritz
- Community Health Branch, Yolo County Health & Human Services Agency, 137 N Cottonwood St, Woodland, CA, 95695, USA
| | - Dolores Hill
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Center Road Building 307-C Room 134, BARC East, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA
| | - Patrice N Klein
- United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, 201 14th Street, SW, Washington, DC, 20250, USA
| | | | - Emily L Lilly
- Virginia Military Institute, 303D Maury-Brooke Hall, Lexington, VA, 24450, USA
| | - Rima McLeod
- The University of Chicago, AMB N310, (MC 2114) 5841 South Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | | | - Caroline E Murphy
- The Wildlife Society, 425 Barlow Place, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Chunlei Su
- M409 Walters Life Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Elizabeth VanWormer
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 406 Hardin Hall, 3310 Holdrege Street, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
| | - Robert Yolken
- Stanley Neurovirology Laboratory, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Grant C Sizemore
- American Bird Conservancy, 4301 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 451, Washington, DC, 20008, USA
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27
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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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28
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Bouscaren N, Pilleron S, Mbelesso P, Ndamba-Bandzouzi B, Dartigues JF, Clément JP, Preux PM, Dardé ML, Guerchet M. Prevalence of toxoplasmosis and its association with dementia in older adults in Central Africa: a result from the EPIDEMCA programme. Trop Med Int Health 2018; 23:1304-1313. [PMID: 30284355 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed at estimating the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection in older adults living in Central Africa and investigating its association with dementia using data from the Epidemiology of Dementia in Central Africa (EPIDEMCA) programme. METHODS A cross-sectional multicentre population-based study was carried out among participants aged 73 (±7) years on average, living in rural and urban areas of the Central African Republic and the Republic of Congo between November 2011 and December 2012. Blood samples were collected from each consenting participant. The detection of anti-T. gondii immunoglobulin G antibodies was performed in 2014 in France using a commercially available ELISA kit. Participants were interviewed using a standardised questionnaire including sociodemographic characteristics. DSM-IV criteria were required for a diagnosis of dementia. Multivariate binary logistic regression models were used to assess the association between toxoplasmosis infection and dementia. RESULTS Among 1662 participants, the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was 63.0% (95% confidence interval (CI): 60.7-65.3) overall, 66.6% (95%CI: 63.4-69.8) in Central African Republic and 59.4% (95%CI: 56.1-62.7) in the Republic of Congo. In multivariate analyses, toxoplasmosis status was significantly associated with increasing age (P = 0.006), Republic of Congo (P = 0.002), urban area (P = 0.001) and previous occupation (P = 0.002). No associations between dementia and toxoplasmosis status or anti-T. gondii IgG titres were found. CONCLUSION Toxoplasma gondii infection was not associated with dementia among older adults in Central Africa. Our findings are consistent with previous studies and add to the knowledge on the relationship between T. gondii infection and neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Bouscaren
- INSERM UMR1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Limoges, France.,Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital of Limoges, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, CNRS FR 3503 GEIST, Limoges, France
| | - Sophie Pilleron
- INSERM UMR1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Limoges, France.,Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital of Limoges, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, CNRS FR 3503 GEIST, Limoges, France
| | - Pascal Mbelesso
- INSERM UMR1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Limoges, France.,Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital of Limoges, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, CNRS FR 3503 GEIST, Limoges, France.,Department of Neurology, Amitié Hospital, Bangui, Central African Republic
| | | | | | - Jean-Pierre Clément
- INSERM UMR1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Limoges, France.,Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital of Limoges, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, CNRS FR 3503 GEIST, Limoges, France.,Hospital and University Federation of Adult and Geriatric Psychiatry, Limoges, France
| | - Pierre-Marie Preux
- INSERM UMR1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Limoges, France.,Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital of Limoges, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, CNRS FR 3503 GEIST, Limoges, France.,Centre of Epidemiology, Biostatistic, and Research Methodology, University Hospital of Limoges, CEBIMER, Limoges, France
| | - Marie-Laure Dardé
- INSERM UMR1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Limoges, France.,Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital of Limoges, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, CNRS FR 3503 GEIST, Limoges, France.,Department of Parasitology and Biological Resource Centre for Toxoplasma, CHU Limoges, Limoges, France
| | - Maëlenn Guerchet
- INSERM UMR1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Limoges, France.,Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital of Limoges, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, CNRS FR 3503 GEIST, Limoges, France.,King's College London, Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, UK
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Trempe CL, Lewis TJ. It's Never Too Early or Too Late-End the Epidemic of Alzheimer's by Preventing or Reversing Causation From Pre-birth to Death. Front Aging Neurosci 2018; 10:205. [PMID: 30050429 PMCID: PMC6052050 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The path to sporadic Alzheimer's is a tragic journey beginning prior to birth and ending in the most dreaded disease of society. Along the disease path are a myriad of clues that portend AD, many of which are complaints of seemingly unrelated conditions from chronic migraines, mood disorders, eye diseases, metabolic syndromes, periodontal diseases, hormonal and autoimmune diseases. Properly treating, not just managing, these diseases, prior to onset of dementia, may significantly reduce dementia incidences. Current high levels of health complaints reflect a state of generalized poor health and compromised immunity. During the mid-Victorian era, people were long-lived yet healthy, suffering from chronic diseases at one tenth the rate of peoples today. It's our poor health, at any age that increases susceptibility to chronic diseases and Alzheimer's. Infection is involved in many cases of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases but is also implicated in many chronic conditions. Scientists looking for causation recognize that Alzheimer' is multifactorial and systemic-not "brain only." To slow, stop and reverse the AD epidemic, identification and reversal of causal factors must occur across the entire life spectrum of humans. This approach simply gives consideration to enhancing immune status of our bodies and brain, and controlling inflammation and infection, throughout the entire age spectrum. Infection is a causal factor, but the root cause is multi-factorial and immune health related. Pasteur stated it best when acknowledging the work of Bernard in 19th Century France, "The seed is nothing, the soil is everything."
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Torres L, Robinson SA, Kim DG, Yan A, Cleland TA, Bynoe MS. Toxoplasma gondii alters NMDAR signaling and induces signs of Alzheimer's disease in wild-type, C57BL/6 mice. J Neuroinflammation 2018; 15:57. [PMID: 29471842 PMCID: PMC5824585 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-018-1086-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease associated with cognitive decline and complete loss of basic functions. The ubiquitous apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infects up to one third of the world's population and is implicated in AD. METHODS We infected C57BL/6 wild-type male and female mice with 10 T. gondii ME49 cysts and assessed whether infection led to behavioral and anatomical effects using immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, Western blotting, cell culture assays, as well as an array of mouse behavior tests. RESULTS We show that T. gondii infection induced two major hallmarks of AD in the brains of C57BL/6 male and female mice: beta-amyloid (Aβ) immunoreactivity and hyperphosphorylated Tau. Infected mice showed significant neuronal death, loss of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) expression, and loss of olfactory sensory neurons. T. gondii infection also caused anxiety-like behavior, altered recognition of social novelty, altered spatial memory, and reduced olfactory sensitivity. This last finding was exclusive to male mice, as infected females showed intact olfactory sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that T. gondii can induce advanced signs of AD in wild-type mice and that it may induce AD in some individuals with underlying health problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Torres
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Sudie-Ann Robinson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Do-Geun Kim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Angela Yan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Thomas A Cleland
- Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Margaret S Bynoe
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
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31
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Alvarado-Esquivel C, Rico-Almochantaf YDR, Hernández-Tinoco J, Quiñones-Canales G, Sánchez-Anguiano LF, Torres-González J, Schott B, Liesenfeld O, Dunay IR. Toxoplasma Gondii Exposure and Neurological Disorders: An Age- and Gender-Matched Case-Control Pilot Study. Eur J Microbiol Immunol (Bp) 2017; 7:303-309. [PMID: 29403659 PMCID: PMC5793700 DOI: 10.1556/1886.2017.00033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Little is known about the association of Toxoplasma gondii infection and neurological disorders. We performed a case-control study with 344 patients with neurological diseases and 344 neurologically healthy age- and gender-matched subjects. Sera of participants were analyzed for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies using commercially available immunoassays. Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were detected in 25 (7.3%) cases and in 35 (10.2%) controls (odds ratio [OR] = 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.40-1.18; P = 0.17). Anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies were found in 5 (14.3%) of the 25 IgG seropositive cases and in 13 (37.1°%) of the 35 IgG seropositive controls (P = 0.15). Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were found in 8 (3.8%) of 213 female cases and in 23 (10.8%) of 213 female controls (OR = 0.32; 95% CI: 0.14-0.73; P = 0.005); and in 17 (13.0%) of 131 male cases and in 12 (9.2%) of 131 male controls (P = 0.32). No direct association between IgG seropositivity and specific neurological disorders was detected. We found no support for a role of latent T. gondii infection in the risk for neurological disorders in this setting. With respect to specific neurological disorders, further studies using larger patient cohorts will be required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosme Alvarado-Esquivel
- Biomedical Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Yazmin del Rosario Rico-Almochantaf
- Biomedical Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Jesús Hernández-Tinoco
- Institute for Scientific Research “Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm,” Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Gerardo Quiñones-Canales
- Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales para los Trabajadores del Estado, Predio Canoas S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Luis Francisco Sánchez-Anguiano
- Institute for Scientific Research “Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm,” Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Jorge Torres-González
- Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales para los Trabajadores del Estado, Predio Canoas S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Björn Schott
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Brenneckestr. 6, 39118 Magdeburg, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Mitte, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Oliver Liesenfeld
- Institute for Microbiology and Hygiene, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité Medical School, Hindenburgdamm 27, D-12203 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ildiko Rita Dunay
- Institute of Inflammation and Neurodegeneration, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg D-39120, Leipziger Str. 44, Germany
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Temporal Cognitive Decline Associated With Exposure to Infectious Agents in a Population-based, Aging Cohort. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 2017; 30:216-22. [PMID: 26710257 DOI: 10.1097/wad.0000000000000133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Numerous cross-sectional studies have related exposure to neurotropic infectious agents with cognitive dysfunction in older adults, however, the temporal sequence is uncertain. METHODS In a representative, well-characterized, population-based aging cohort, we determined whether the temporal trajectories of multiple cognitive domains are associated with exposure to cytomegalovirus (CMV), Herpes Simplex virus, type 1 (HSV-1), Herpes Simplex virus, type 2 (HSV-2), or Toxoplasma gondii (TOX). Complex attention, executive functions, memory, language, and visuospatial function were assessed annually for 5 years among consenting individuals. Study entry IgG antibody titers indexing exposure to each infectious agent were examined in relation to slopes of subsequent temporal cognitive decline using multiple linear regressions adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS The IgG levels for HSV-2 were significantly associated with baseline cognitive domain scores (N=1022 participants). Further, the IgG levels for HSV-2, TOX, and CMV, but not HSV-1 were significantly associated with greater temporal cognitive decline that varied by type of infection. CONCLUSIONS Exposure to CMV, HSV-2, or TOX is associated with cognitive deterioration in older individuals, independent of general age-related variables. An increased understanding of the role of infectious agents in cognitive decline may lead to new methods for its prevention and treatment.
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33
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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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34
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Baldissera MD, Souza CF, Carmo GM, Monteiro SG, Mendes RE, Stefani LM, da Silva AS. Relation between acetylcholinesterase and Na +, K +-ATPase activities with impaired memory of mice experimentally infected by Trypanosoma cruzi. Microb Pathog 2017; 111:75-80. [PMID: 28823791 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2017.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2017] [Revised: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 08/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and causes severe cardiac and brain damage, leading to behavioral alterations in humans and animals. However, the mechanisms involved in memory impairment during T. cruzi infection remain unknown. It has long been recognized that the enzymatic activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and Na+, K+-ATPase are linked with memory dysfunction during other trypanosomiasis. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the involvement of cerebral AChE and Na+, K+-ATPase activities in the memory impairment during T. cruzi (Colombian strain) infection. A significant decrease on latency time during the inhibitory avoidance task was observed in animals infected by T. cruzi compared to uninfected animals, findings compatible to memory dysfunction. Moreover, the cerebral AChE activity increased, while the Na+, K+-ATPase decreased in T. cruzi infected compared to uninfected animals. Histopathology revealed mild to moderate multifocal gliosis in the cerebral cortex and light focal meningeal lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, which may have contributed to memory loss. Based on these evidences, we can conclude that T. cruzi (Colombian strain) causes memory impairment in mice experimentally infected. Moreover, the changes in AChE and Na+, K+-ATPase activities may be considered a mechanism involved in disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus D Baldissera
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Carine F Souza
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Guilherme M Carmo
- Graduate Program in Toxicological Biochemistry (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Silvia G Monteiro
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Ricardo E Mendes
- Laboratory of Pathology, Instituto Federal Catarinense (IFC), Concórdia, SC, Brazil
| | - Lenita M Stefani
- Department of Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Chapecó, SC, Brazil
| | - Aleksandro S da Silva
- Graduate Program in Toxicological Biochemistry (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; Department of Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Chapecó, SC, Brazil.
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35
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Wyman CP, Gale SD, Hedges-Muncy A, Erickson LD, Wilson E, Hedges DW. Association between Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and memory function in nondemented older adults. Neurobiol Aging 2017; 53:76-82. [PMID: 28235681 PMCID: PMC5482532 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2017.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Revised: 01/19/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) seropositivity may be associated with decreased memory in older adults. To further investigate the association between T. gondii seropositivity and memory in nondemented older adults, we obtained serum samples from 114 nondemented older adults evaluated by the Alzheimer's Disease and Research Center at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. We determined T. gondii seropositivity and anti-T. gondii IgG antibody titer and examined associations with memory function while controlling for socioeconomic status, education level, age, and apolipoprotein E4 status. There were few associations between T. gondii seropositivity or anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies and memory, although there was some support suggesting an interaction between anti-T. gondii and sex. In the seropositive-only sample, there was an inverse relationship between anti-T. gondii titer and performance on the selective reminding test. Overall, we found little evidence of an association between impaired memory function and T. gondii seropositivity and anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies in this sample of nondemented older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia P Wyman
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Shawn D Gale
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA; The Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
| | | | - Lance D Erickson
- Department of Sociology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Eric Wilson
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Dawson W Hedges
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA; The Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
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36
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Yu Y, Zhao N, An J, Zhang X. CCAAT/Enhancer-Binding Protein β Mediates the Killing of Toxoplasma gondii by Inducing Autophagy in Nonhematopoietic Cells. DNA Cell Biol 2017; 36:212-218. [PMID: 28092463 DOI: 10.1089/dna.2016.3434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is a main defense strategy by which infected host cells can virtually induce the killing of parasite, including Toxoplasma gondii. However, the regulatory mechanisms of autophagy in T. gondii-infected nonhematopoietic cells are still unknown. Emerging evidence indicates that CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β (C/EBP β) is associated with the regulation of autophagy. Herein, we hypothesized that C/EBP β plays roles in inducing autophagy in nonhematopoietic cells. Expression of C/EBP β was aberrantly regulated in endothelial cells and retinal pigment epithelial cells challenged by T. gondii. Inhibition of C/EBP β reduced the killing of T. gondii in nonhematopoietic cells, whereas C/EBP β overexpression resulted in the enhancement of killing of T. gondii as well as the increase in autophagy in infected cells. Furthermore, the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activation was found to be reduced by C/EBP β overexpression, but increased by C/EBP β inhibition. The increase in T. gondii killing induced by C/EBP β overexpression was blocked by the mTOR activator phosphatidic acid and was increased by the inhibitor AZD8055. In conclusion, we demonstrate that C/EBP β expression is increased in nonhematopoietic cells infected by T. gondii, resulting in the activation of autophagy in host cells by inhibiting mTOR pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhui Yu
- 1 College of Basic Medicine Sciences, Jilin University , Changchun, China
| | - Na Zhao
- 2 Laboratory Animal Center of North China University of Science and Technology , Tangshan, China
| | - Jiaqi An
- 3 School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fourth Military Medical University , Xian, China
| | - Xichen Zhang
- 4 College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University , Changchun, China
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37
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Kikillus KH, Chambers GK, Farnworth MJ, Hare KM. Research challenges and conservation implications for urban cat management in New Zealand. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.1071/pc16022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Over the past 20 years, conservation efforts in New Zealand have moved from being concentrated in rural and isolated island locations, where exotic mammalian predators are often controlled, to begin to bring native fauna back to major cities. However, human–wildlife conflicts arise when conservation occurs in close proximity to cities. These are particularly intense when companion animals are involved either as potential predators or prey of high-value conservation animals. Within New Zealand, this conflict is particularly fraught around domestic cats (Felis catus) in the urban environment. Cats in New Zealand are recognised as major introduced predators of native fauna, but they also prey on small introduced predatory mammals. This dynamic causes much conflict between people with different attitudes towards animals; however, as yet, few studies have explored the role(s), either negative or positive, of urban cats in New Zealand. Here, we review current knowledge on domestic cats in urban New Zealand, identify gaps in knowledge and make suggestions for future research, which includes further social science research, citizen science-based research programs, market research, investigation into cat-management legislation, and more in-depth studies of cat diseases and zoonoses. These data are vital for informing the public and improving the management of urban cat populations, including mitigating conservation impacts. Urban ecologists will need to be versatile in the way they design and conduct experiments, exploiting multiple disciplines to both ensure scientific robustness, but also community and government support for uptake of results into management and legislation.
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38
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Bharti AR, McCutchan A, Deutsch R, Smith DM, Ellis RJ, Cherner M, Woods SP, Heaton RK, Grant I, Letendre SL. Latent Toxoplasma Infection and Higher Toxoplasma gondii Immunoglobulin G Levels Are Associated With Worse Neurocognitive Functioning in HIV-Infected Adults. Clin Infect Dis 2016; 63:1655-1660. [PMID: 27794019 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciw655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2016] [Accepted: 09/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated neurocognitive disorders persist despite suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART). Because latent Toxoplasma infection (LTI) may adversely impact brain function, we investigated its impact on neurocognitive impairment (NCI) in people living with HIV disease. METHODS Two hundred sixty-three HIV-infected adults underwent comprehensive neurocognitive assessments and had anti-Toxoplasma gondii immunoglobulin G (anti-Toxo IgG) measured by qualitative and quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS Participants were mostly middle-aged white men who were taking ART (70%). LTI was detected in 30 (11.4%) participants and was associated with a significantly greater prevalence of global NCI (LTI positive [LTI+] = 57% and LTI negative [LTI-] = 34%) (odds ratio, 1.67; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-2.40; P = .017). Deficits were more prevalent in the LTI+ vs the LTI- group in 6 of 7 cognitive domains with statistical significance reached for delayed recall (P < .01). The probability of NCI increased with higher CD4+ T-cell counts among LTI+ individuals but with lower CD4+ T-cell counts in LTI- persons. A strong correlation (r = .93) between anti-Toxo IgG levels and global deficit score was found in a subgroup of 9 patients. Biomarkers indicative of central nervous system inflammation did not differ between LTI+ and LTI- participants. CONCLUSIONS In this cross-sectional analysis, LTI was associated with NCI, especially in those with higher CD4+ T-cell counts. Longitudinal studies to investigate the role of neuroinflammation and neuronal injury in LTI patients with NCI and trials of anti-Toxoplasma therapy should be pursued.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajay R Bharti
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego
| | | | - Reena Deutsch
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego
| | - Davey M Smith
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego
| | - Ronald J Ellis
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego
| | - Mariana Cherner
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego
| | - Steven P Woods
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego
| | - Robert K Heaton
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego
| | - Igor Grant
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego
| | - Scott L Letendre
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego.,Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego
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39
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Severance EG, Xiao J, Jones-Brando L, Sabunciyan S, Li Y, Pletnikov M, Prandovszky E, Yolken R. Toxoplasma gondii-A Gastrointestinal Pathogen Associated with Human Brain Diseases. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2016; 131:143-163. [PMID: 27793216 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2016.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Serious psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression are important causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. While these are primarily diseases involving altered brain functioning, numerous studies have documented increased rates of gastrointestinal inflammation and dysfunction in many individuals with these disorders. Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan protozoan intracellular parasite with a widespread distribution in both developed and developing countries. Toxoplasma organisms enter the ecosystem through the shedding of oocysts by Toxoplasma-infected felines. In almost all cases of postnatal human infection, Toxoplasma enters its hosts through the intestinal tract either by the ingestion of oocysts or by the consumption of meat from food animals which themselves were infected by Toxoplasma oocysts. It had previously been thought that most cases of Toxoplasma infection in immune competent children and adults were inapparent and asymptomatic. However, recent studies cast doubt on this concept as exposure to Toxoplasma has been associated with a range of acute and chronic symptoms. Of particular note has been the finding of an increased rate of a range of neurological and psychiatric disorders associated with serological evidence of Toxoplasma exposure. A role of Toxoplasma infection in brain diseases is also supported by the consistent finding of altered cognition and behavior in animal models of infections. Much of the attention relating to the role of Toxoplasma infection in neuropsychiatric disorders has focused on the brain, where Toxoplasma tissue cysts can persist for extended periods of time. However, recent discoveries relating to the role of the gastrointestinal tract in cognition and behavior suggest that Toxoplasma may also increase susceptibility to human brain diseases through immune activation, particularly involving the gastrointestinal mucosa. The study of the pathways relating to the pathobiology and immunology of Toxoplasma infection may provide insights into the pathogenesis of a range of human neuropsychiatric disorders as well as into cognitive functioning in otherwise healthy individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- E G Severance
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - J Xiao
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - L Jones-Brando
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - S Sabunciyan
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Y Li
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - M Pletnikov
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - E Prandovszky
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - R Yolken
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
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40
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Gajewski PD, Falkenstein M, Hengstler JG, Golka K. Reduced ERPs and theta oscillations underlie working memory deficits in Toxoplasma gondii infected seniors. Biol Psychol 2016; 120:35-45. [PMID: 27516127 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2016.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Revised: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most widespread infections in humans. Recent studies give evidence for memory deficits in infected older adults. To investigate working memory dysfunction in infected elderly, a double-blinded electrophysiological study was conducted. 84 persons derived from a sample of 131 healthy participants with the mean age of 70 years were assigned to two groups of 42 non-infected and 42 infected individuals. The outcome measures were behavioral performance, target and response-related ERPs, and time-frequency wavelets during performance in a n-back working-memory task. The infected individuals showed a reduced rate of detected targets and diminished P3b amplitude both in target-locked as well as response-locked data compared to the non-infected group. Time-frequency decomposition of the EEG-signals revealed lower evoked power in the theta frequency range in the target-locked as well as in the response-locked data in infected individuals. The reported effects were comparable with differences between healthy young and old adults described previously. Taking together, the reduced working-memory performance accompanied by an attenuated P3b and frontal theta activity may suggest neurotransmitter imbalance like dopamine and norepinephrine in T. gondii infected individuals. In face of a high prevalence of T. gondii infection and the increasing ratio of older population their accelerated memory decline may have substantial socioeconomic consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick D Gajewski
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at TU Dortmund (IfADo), Dortmund, Germany.
| | - Michael Falkenstein
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at TU Dortmund (IfADo), Dortmund, Germany
| | - Jan G Hengstler
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at TU Dortmund (IfADo), Dortmund, Germany
| | - Klaus Golka
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at TU Dortmund (IfADo), Dortmund, Germany
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Ene L, Marcotte TD, Umlauf A, Grancea C, Temereanca A, Bharti A, Achim CL, Letendre S, Ruta SM. Latent toxoplasmosis is associated with neurocognitive impairment in young adults with and without chronic HIV infection. J Neuroimmunol 2016; 299:1-7. [PMID: 27725106 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2016.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2015] [Revised: 07/30/2016] [Accepted: 08/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
We evaluated the impact of latent toxoplasmosis (LT) on neurocognitive (NC) and neurobehavioural functioning in young adults with and without chronic HIV infection, using a standardised NC test battery, self-reported Beck Depression Inventory, Frontal System Behavior Scale, MINI-International Neuropsychiatric Interview and risk-assessment battery. 194 young adults (median age 24years, 48.2% males) with chronic HIV infection (HIV+) since childhood and 51 HIV seronegative (HIV-) participants were included. HIV+ individuals had good current immunological status (median CD4: 479 cells/μl) despite a low CD4 nadir (median: 93 cells/μl). LT (positive anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies) was present in one third of participants. The impairment rates in the HIV- with and without Toxo were not significantly different (p=0.17). However, we observed an increasing trend (p<0.001) in impairment rates with HIV and LT status: HIV-/LT- (6.1%); HIV-/LT+ (22%), HIV+/LT- (31%), HIV+/LT+ (49%). In a multivariable analysis using the entire study group there were main effects on cognition for HIV and also for LT. Within the HIV+ group LT was associated with worse performance globally (p=0.006), in memory (p=0.009), speed of information processing (p=0.01), verbal (p=0.02) and learning (p=0.02) domains. LT was not associated with depressive symptoms, frontal systems dysfunction or risk behaviors in any of the groups. HIV participants with lower Toxoplasma antibody concentration had worse NC performance, with higher GDS values (p=0.03) and worse learning (p=0.002), memory (p=0.006), speed of information processing (p=0.01) T scores. Latent Toxoplasmosis may contribute to NC impairment in young adults, including those with and without chronic HIV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Ene
- "Dr. Victor Babes" Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest, Romania.
| | - T D Marcotte
- University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - A Umlauf
- University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - C Grancea
- "Stefan S. Nicolau" Institute of Virology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - A Temereanca
- "Stefan S. Nicolau" Institute of Virology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - A Bharti
- University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - C L Achim
- University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - S Letendre
- University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - S M Ruta
- "Stefan S. Nicolau" Institute of Virology, Bucharest, Romania
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McPhillie M, Zhou Y, El Bissati K, Dubey J, Lorenzi H, Capper M, Lukens AK, Hickman M, Muench S, Verma SK, Weber CR, Wheeler K, Gordon J, Sanders J, Moulton H, Wang K, Kim TK, He Y, Santos T, Woods S, Lee P, Donkin D, Kim E, Fraczek L, Lykins J, Esaa F, Alibana-Clouser F, Dovgin S, Weiss L, Brasseur G, Wirth D, Kent M, Hood L, Meunieur B, Roberts CW, Hasnain SS, Antonyuk SV, Fishwick C, McLeod R. New paradigms for understanding and step changes in treating active and chronic, persistent apicomplexan infections. Sci Rep 2016; 6:29179. [PMID: 27412848 PMCID: PMC4944145 DOI: 10.1038/srep29179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii, the most common parasitic infection of human brain and eye, persists across lifetimes, can progressively damage sight, and is currently incurable. New, curative medicines are needed urgently. Herein, we develop novel models to facilitate drug development: EGS strain T. gondii forms cysts in vitro that induce oocysts in cats, the gold standard criterion for cysts. These cysts highly express cytochrome b. Using these models, we envisioned, and then created, novel 4-(1H)-quinolone scaffolds that target the cytochrome bc1 complex Qi site, of which, a substituted 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinolin-4-one inhibits active infection (IC50, 30 nM) and cysts (IC50, 4 μM) in vitro, and in vivo (25 mg/kg), and drug resistant Plasmodium falciparum (IC50, <30 nM), with clinically relevant synergy. Mutant yeast and co-crystallographic studies demonstrate binding to the bc1 complex Qi site. Our results have direct impact on improving outcomes for those with toxoplasmosis, malaria, and ~2 billion persons chronically infected with encysted bradyzoites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Amanda K Lukens
- Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- The Broad Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mark Hickman
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Kai Wang
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Taek-Kyun Kim
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Yuqing He
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Tatiana Santos
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | | | - Patty Lee
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - David Donkin
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Eric Kim
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Louis Weiss
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | | | - Dyann Wirth
- Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- The Broad Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Leroy Hood
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Brigitte Meunieur
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (12BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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Alvarado-Esquivel C, Terrones-Saldívar MDC, Hernández-Tinoco J, Muñoz-Terrones MDE, Gallegos-González RO, Sánchez-Anguiano LF, Reyes-Robles ME, Jaramillo-Juárez F, Liesenfeld O, Estrada-Martínez S. Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women in Aguascalientes City, Mexico: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 2016; 6:e012409. [PMID: 27371556 PMCID: PMC4947781 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We determined the seroprevalence and correlates of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women in Aguascalientes City, Mexico. DESIGN A cross-sectional survey. SETTING Pregnant women were enrolled in the central Mexican city of Aguascalientes. PARTICIPANTS We studied 338 pregnant women who attended prenatal care in 3 public health centres. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES Women were examined for IgG/IgM antibodies to T. gondii by using commercially available enzyme immunoassays, and an avidity test. Multiple analyses were used to determine the association of T. gondii seropositivity with the characteristics of the pregnant women. RESULTS Of the 338 pregnant women studied, 21 (6.2%) had IgG antibodies to T. gondii, and 1 (4.8%) of them was also positive for IgM antibodies to T. gondii. Avidity of IgG antibodies to T. gondii was high in the IgM-positive sample. Logistic regression analysis of sociodemographic, behavioural and housing variables showed that T. gondii seropositivity was associated with white ethnicity (OR=149.4; 95% CI 10.8 to 2054.1; p<0.01), not washing hands before eating (OR=6.41; 95% CI 1.73 to 23.6; p=0.005) and use of latrine (OR=37.6; 95% CI 4.63 to 306.31; p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS Results demonstrate that pregnant women in Aguascalientes City have a low seroprevalence of T. gondii infection. However, this low prevalence indicates that most pregnant women are at risk for a primary infection. Factors associated with T. gondii exposure found in this study, including food hygiene, may be useful to determine preventive measures against T. gondii infection and its sequelae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosme Alvarado-Esquivel
- Biomedical Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of Durango State, Durango, Mexico
| | | | - Jesús Hernández-Tinoco
- Institute for Scientific Research “Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm”, Juárez University of Durango State, Durango, Mexico
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Oliver Liesenfeld
- Institute for Microbiology and Hygiene, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité Medical School, Berlin, Germany
- Medical and Scientific Affairs, Roche Molecular Systems, Pleasanton, CA, USA
| | - Sergio Estrada-Martínez
- Institute for Scientific Research “Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm”, Juárez University of Durango State, Durango, Mexico
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Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease. ARCHIVES OF CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2016. [DOI: 10.5812/archcid.37205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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45
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Alvarado-Esquivel C, Sánchez-Anguiano LF, Hernández-Tinoco J, Pulido-Montoya RA, Acosta-Rojas G, Estrada-Martínez S, Pérez-Álamos AR, Vaquera-Enriquez R, Díaz-Herrera A, Segura-Moreno R, Guerrero-Carbajal MDL, Liesenfeld O, García IB, Rentería-López MG. Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma Gondii Infection in People Applying for Medical Certificates. Eur J Microbiol Immunol (Bp) 2016; 6:90-8. [PMID: 27429791 PMCID: PMC4936331 DOI: 10.1556/1886.2016.00001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2016] [Accepted: 02/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Medical certificates are documents that state the health status of a person. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in applicants of medical certificates and to investigate seroprevalence association with characteristics of these individuals. We examined 404 applicants in a public health center in Durango City, Mexico for the presence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies using enzyme-linked immunoassays. Of the 404 subjects (mean age of 35.94 ± 13.01) studied, 29 (7.2%) were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies and 9 (31.0%) of them were also positive for anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies. IgG and IgM seropositivities were associated with vision impairment (P = 0.04) and a history of surgery (P = 0.03), respectively. Prevalence of high (>150 IU/ml) IgG antibody levels was associated with hearing impairment (P = 0.03), and histories of lymphadenopathy (P = 0.04) and miscarriages (P = 0.03). Multivariate analysis showed that T. gondii seropositivity was associated with being born out of Durango State (odds ratio [OR] = 4.65; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.25-17. 29; P = 0.02) and soil contact (OR = 4.27; 95% CI: 1.71-10.67; P = 0.002) and negatively associated with consumption of sheep meat (OR = 0.12; 95% CI: 0.02-0.65; P = 0.01). These results could be used for the design of optimal preventive measures against toxoplasmosis and its sequelae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosme Alvarado-Esquivel
- Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Dgo, Mexico
| | - Luis Francisco Sánchez-Anguiano
- Institute for Scientific Research “Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm”, Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico
| | - Jesús Hernández-Tinoco
- Institute for Scientific Research “Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm”, Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico
| | - Rosa Angélica Pulido-Montoya
- Facultad de Enfermería y Obstetricia, Juárez University of Durango State, Cuauhtémoc 223 norte, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Guadalupe Acosta-Rojas
- Facultad de Enfermería y Obstetricia, Juárez University of Durango State, Cuauhtémoc 223 norte, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Sergio Estrada-Martínez
- Institute for Scientific Research “Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm”, Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico
| | - Alma Rosa Pérez-Álamos
- Institute for Scientific Research “Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm”, Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico
| | - Raquel Vaquera-Enriquez
- Health Center No. 2 “Dr. Carlos Santamaría”, Servicios de Salud de Durango, Durango, Mexico, Talpa S/N, 34170 Durango, Mexico
| | - Arturo Díaz-Herrera
- Health Center No. 2 “Dr. Carlos Santamaría”, Servicios de Salud de Durango, Durango, Mexico, Talpa S/N, 34170 Durango, Mexico
| | - Raúl Segura-Moreno
- Health Center No. 2 “Dr. Carlos Santamaría”, Servicios de Salud de Durango, Durango, Mexico, Talpa S/N, 34170 Durango, Mexico
| | | | - Oliver Liesenfeld
- Institute for Microbiology and Hygiene, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité Medical School, Hindenburgdamm 27, D-12203 Berlin, Germany
| | - Isabel Beristain García
- Facultad de Enfermería y Obstetricia, Juárez University of Durango State, Cuauhtémoc 223 norte, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - María Guadalupe Rentería-López
- Health Center No. 2 “Dr. Carlos Santamaría”, Servicios de Salud de Durango, Durango, Mexico, Talpa S/N, 34170 Durango, Mexico
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Ibrahim I, Salah H, El Sayed H, Mansour H, Eissa A, Wood J, Fathi W, Tobar S, Gur RC, Gur RE, Dickerson F, Yolken RH, El Bahaey W, Nimgaonkar V. Hepatitis C virus antibody titers associated with cognitive dysfunction in an asymptomatic community-based sample. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2016; 38:861-8. [PMID: 27269819 DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2016.1168780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with cognitive dysfunction in clinic-based studies. The risk could be attributed to factors such as antiviral medications, substance abuse, or coincidental infection. AIM The aim was to evaluate cognitive function in relation to HCV antibody titers in a community-based sample of asymptomatic individuals at low risk for substance abuse. METHOD Adults were ascertained from a community in Mansoura, Egypt, where HCV is endemic (n = 258). Cognitive performance was evaluated using the Arabic version of the Penn Computerized Neurocognitive Battery. Substance abuse and psychopathology were also assessed. Antibodies to HCV and Toxoplasma gondii (TOX), a common protozoan that can affect cognition, were estimated using serological IgG assays. RESULTS The prevalence of HCV and TOX infection was 17.6% and 52.9%, respectively. HCV antibody titers were significantly associated with worse function in four cognitive tests for accuracy and three tests for speed, after adjusting for covariates (p < .05, beta coefficients, 2.1-3.2). TOX antibody titers were associated with impaired accuracy in one test. CONCLUSIONS The association between HCV antibody titers and cognitive impairment is not mediated by antiviral treatment or substance abuse in this sample. Whether HCV has a causal role in the cognitive dysfunction should be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibtihal Ibrahim
- b Department of Psychiatry , Mansoura University School of Medicine , Mansoura , Egypt
| | - Hala Salah
- b Department of Psychiatry , Mansoura University School of Medicine , Mansoura , Egypt
| | - Hanan El Sayed
- b Department of Psychiatry , Mansoura University School of Medicine , Mansoura , Egypt
| | - Hader Mansour
- a Department of Psychiatry , University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic , Pittsburgh , PA , USA.,b Department of Psychiatry , Mansoura University School of Medicine , Mansoura , Egypt
| | - Ahmed Eissa
- b Department of Psychiatry , Mansoura University School of Medicine , Mansoura , Egypt
| | - Joel Wood
- a Department of Psychiatry , University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic , Pittsburgh , PA , USA
| | - Warda Fathi
- b Department of Psychiatry , Mansoura University School of Medicine , Mansoura , Egypt
| | - Salwa Tobar
- b Department of Psychiatry , Mansoura University School of Medicine , Mansoura , Egypt
| | - Ruben C Gur
- d Neuropsychiatry Section, Department of Psychiatry , University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine , Philadelphia , PA , USA
| | - Raquel E Gur
- d Neuropsychiatry Section, Department of Psychiatry , University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine , Philadelphia , PA , USA
| | - Faith Dickerson
- e Department of Pediatrics , Johns Hopkins School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA
| | - Robert H Yolken
- f Department of Pediatrics , Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology , Baltimore , MD , USA
| | - Wafaa El Bahaey
- b Department of Psychiatry , Mansoura University School of Medicine , Mansoura , Egypt
| | - Vishwajit Nimgaonkar
- a Department of Psychiatry , University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic , Pittsburgh , PA , USA.,c Department of Human Genetics , Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , PA , USA
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47
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Alvarado-Esquivel C, Sánchez-Anguiano LF, Hernández-Tinoco J, Calzada-Torres EA, Estrada-Martínez S, Pérez-Álamos AR, Vaquera-Enriquez R, Díaz-Herrera A, Segura-Moreno R, de Lourdes Guerrero-Carbajal M, Rentería-López MG, García IB, Rábago-Sánchez E, Liesenfeld O. Influence of Toxoplasma Gondii Infection on Symptoms and Signs of Menopause. Eur J Microbiol Immunol (Bp) 2016; 6:49-55. [PMID: 27141314 PMCID: PMC4838985 DOI: 10.1556/1886.2015.00050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Accepted: 12/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Some symptoms of menopause have also been described in patients with toxoplasmosis. Whether Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection has any influence on clinical manifestations of menopause is yet unknown. We sought to determine whether T. gondii exposure is associated with symptoms and signs of menopause. We performed a cross-sectional study of women attending a public health center in Durango City, Mexico. Participants were examined for the presence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies using enzyme-linked immunoassays. A questionnaire including 47 symptoms and signs potentially associated with menopause was applied. Association of seroprevalence for T. gondii with clinical characteristics of women was assessed by bivariate and multivariate analyses. Bivariate analysis showed that bouts of rapid heartbeat, breast pain, electric shock sensation, dizziness, digestive problems, low back pain, and migraine were associated with seropositivity to either IgG anti-T. gondii alone or both IgG and IgM anti-T. gondii. Breast pain was the only variable that was found to be associated with IgG seropositivity to T. gondii by multivariate analysis: (OR = 2.84; 95% CI: 1.35–5.90; P = 0.005). Our results suggest that T. gondii exposure may influence on the clinical manifestations of menopause. Results deserve further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosme Alvarado-Esquivel
- Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of Durango State , Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Dgo, Mexico
| | - Luis Francisco Sánchez-Anguiano
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm," Juárez University of Durango State . Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico
| | - Jesús Hernández-Tinoco
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm," Juárez University of Durango State . Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico
| | - Edwin Adiel Calzada-Torres
- Facultad de Enfermería y Obstetricia, Juárez University of Durango State , Cuauhtémoc 223 norte, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Sergio Estrada-Martínez
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm," Juárez University of Durango State . Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico
| | - Alma Rosa Pérez-Álamos
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm," Juárez University of Durango State . Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico
| | - Raquel Vaquera-Enriquez
- Health Center No. 2 "Dr. Carlos Santamaría", Servicios de Salud de Durango , Durango, Mexico, Talpa S/N, 34170 Durango, Mexico
| | - Arturo Díaz-Herrera
- Health Center No. 2 "Dr. Carlos Santamaría", Servicios de Salud de Durango , Durango, Mexico, Talpa S/N, 34170 Durango, Mexico
| | - Raúl Segura-Moreno
- Health Center No. 2 "Dr. Carlos Santamaría", Servicios de Salud de Durango , Durango, Mexico, Talpa S/N, 34170 Durango, Mexico
| | | | - María Guadalupe Rentería-López
- Health Center No. 2 "Dr. Carlos Santamaría", Servicios de Salud de Durango , Durango, Mexico, Talpa S/N, 34170 Durango, Mexico
| | - Isabel Beristain García
- Facultad de Enfermería y Obstetricia, Juárez University of Durango State , Cuauhtémoc 223 norte, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth Rábago-Sánchez
- Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Dgo, Mexico; General Hospital, Secretary of Health, Avenida 5 de febrero 220, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Oliver Liesenfeld
- Institute for Microbiology and Hygiene, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité Medical School , Hindenburgdamm 27, D-12203 Berlin, Germany
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Alvarado-Esquivel C, Sánchez-Anguiano LF, Hernández-Tinoco J, Berumen-Segovia LO, Torres-Prieto YE, Estrada-Martínez S, Pérez-Álamos AR, Ortiz-Jurado MN, Molotla-de-León G, Beristain-García I, Rábago-Sánchez E, Liesenfeld O. Toxoplasma Gondii Infection and Depression: A Case-Control Seroprevalence Study. Eur J Microbiol Immunol (Bp) 2016; 6:85-9. [PMID: 27429790 PMCID: PMC4936330 DOI: 10.1556/1886.2016.00010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We assessed the association of Toxoplasma gondii infection and depression in a sample of psychiatric patients and control subjects without depression. We performed an age- and gender-matched case-control study of 89 patients suffering from depression attended in a public psychiatric hospital in Durango City, Mexico and 356 control subjects without depression from the general population of the same city. Participants were tested for the presence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies using enzyme-linked immunoassays. Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were found in 11 (12.4%) of the 89 cases and in 22 (6.2%) of the 356 controls (OR = 2.14; 95% CI: 1.00-4.59; P = 0.04). Anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies were found in four (19%) of 21 anti-T. gondii IgG seropositive controls but not in 11 anti-T. gondii IgG seropositive cases (P = 0.27). Patients aged 30 years old and younger had a significantly higher seroprevalence of T. gondii infection than controls of the same age group (P = 0.001). Results of the present study suggest a potential association between T. gondii infection and depression. Furthers studies to confirm our results and to determine the epidemiology of T. gondii in young depressed patients should be conducted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosme Alvarado-Esquivel
- Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N , 34000 Durango, Dgo, Mexico
| | - Luis Francisco Sánchez-Anguiano
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm," Juárez University of Durango State. Avenida Universidad S/N , 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico
| | - Jesús Hernández-Tinoco
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm," Juárez University of Durango State. Avenida Universidad S/N , 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico
| | - Luis Omar Berumen-Segovia
- Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N , 34000 Durango, Dgo, Mexico
| | | | - Sergio Estrada-Martínez
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm," Juárez University of Durango State. Avenida Universidad S/N , 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico
| | - Alma Rosa Pérez-Álamos
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm," Juárez University of Durango State. Avenida Universidad S/N , 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico
| | | | - Gabriel Molotla-de-León
- Hospital of Mental Health "Dr. Miguel Vallebueno", Servicios de Salud de Durango , Durango, Mexico
| | - Isabel Beristain-García
- Facultad de Enfermería y Obstetricia, Juárez University of Durango State , Cuauhtémoc 223 norte, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth Rábago-Sánchez
- Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Dgo, Mexico; General Hospital, Secretary of Health, Avenida 5 de febrero 220, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Oliver Liesenfeld
- Institute for Microbiology and Hygiene, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité Medical School , Hindenburgdamm 27, D-12203 Berlin, Germany
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Möhle L, Israel N, Paarmann K, Krohn M, Pietkiewicz S, Müller A, Lavrik IN, Buguliskis JS, Schott BH, Schlüter D, Gundelfinger ED, Montag D, Seifert U, Pahnke J, Dunay IR. Chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection enhances β-amyloid phagocytosis and clearance by recruited monocytes. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2016; 4:25. [PMID: 26984535 PMCID: PMC4793516 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-016-0293-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with the accumulation of β-amyloid (Aβ) as senile plaques in the brain, thus leading to neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment. Plaque formation depends not merely on the amount of generated Aβ peptides, but more importantly on their effective removal. Chronic infections with neurotropic pathogens, most prominently the parasite Toxoplasma (T.) gondii, are frequent in the elderly, and it has been suggested that the resulting neuroinflammation may influence the course of AD. In the present study, we investigated how chronic T. gondii infection and resulting neuroinflammation affect plaque deposition and removal in a mouse model of AD. RESULTS Chronic infection with T. gondii was associated with reduced Aβ and plaque load in 5xFAD mice. Upon infection, myeloid-derived CCR2(hi) Ly6C(hi) monocytes, CCR2(+) Ly6C(int), and CCR2(+) Ly6C(low) mononuclear cells were recruited to the brain of mice. Compared to microglia, these recruited mononuclear cells showed highly increased phagocytic capacity of Aβ ex vivo. The F4/80(+) Ly6C(low) macrophages expressed high levels of Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid cells 2 (TREM2), CD36, and Scavenger Receptor A1 (SCARA1), indicating phagocytic activity. Importantly, selective ablation of CCR2(+) Ly6C(hi) monocytes resulted in an increased amount of Aβ in infected mice. Elevated insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), as well as immunoproteasome subunits β1i/LMP2, β2i/MECL-1, and β5i/LMP7 mRNA levels in the infected brains indicated increased proteolytic Aβ degradation. Particularly, LMP7 was highly expressed by the recruited mononuclear cells in the brain, suggesting a novel mechanism of Aβ clearance. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that chronic Toxoplasma infection ameliorates β-amyloidosis in a murine model of AD by activation of the immune system, specifically by recruitment of Ly6C(hi) monocytes and by enhancement of phagocytosis and degradation of soluble Aβ. Our findings provide evidence for a modulatory role of inflammation-induced Aβ phagocytosis and degradation by newly recruited peripheral immune cells in the pathophysiology of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Möhle
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, University of Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Nicole Israel
- Institute for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Kristin Paarmann
- Department of Pathology (PAT), Translational Neurodegeneration Research and Neuropathology Lab, University of Oslo (UiO) and Oslo University Hospital (OUS), Oslo, Norway
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Magdeburg, Germany
- Neurogenetics, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Markus Krohn
- Department of Pathology (PAT), Translational Neurodegeneration Research and Neuropathology Lab, University of Oslo (UiO) and Oslo University Hospital (OUS), Oslo, Norway
| | - Sabine Pietkiewicz
- Department of Translational Inflammation Research, Institute of Experimental Internal Medicine, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Müller
- Institute for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Inna N Lavrik
- Department of Translational Inflammation Research, Institute of Experimental Internal Medicine, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | | | - Björn H Schott
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- Department of Behavioral Neurology, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Mitte, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dirk Schlüter
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, University of Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Eckart D Gundelfinger
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- Department of Neurochemistry and Molecular Biology, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
- Medical Faculty, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Dirk Montag
- Neurogenetics, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Ulrike Seifert
- Institute for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Jens Pahnke
- Department of Pathology (PAT), Translational Neurodegeneration Research and Neuropathology Lab, University of Oslo (UiO) and Oslo University Hospital (OUS), Oslo, Norway
- University of Lübeck (UzL), LIED, Lübeck, Germany
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry (IPB), Halle, Germany
| | - Ildiko Rita Dunay
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, University of Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
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50
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Infectious disease burden and cognitive function in young to middle-aged adults. Brain Behav Immun 2016; 52:161-168. [PMID: 26598104 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2015.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2015] [Revised: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 10/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Prior research has suggested an association between exposure to infectious disease and neurocognitive function in humans. While most of these studies have explored individual viral, bacterial, and even parasitic sources of infection, few have considered the potential neurocognitive burden associated with multiple infections. In this study, we utilized publically available data from a large dataset produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that included measures of neurocognitive function, sociodemographic variables, and serum antibody data for several infectious diseases. Specifically, immunoglobulin G antibodies for toxocariasis, toxoplasmosis, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C, cytomegalovirus, and herpes 1 and 2 were available in 5662 subjects. We calculated an overall index of infectious-disease burden to determine if an aggregate measure of exposure to infectious disease would be associated with neurocognitive function in adults aged 20-59 years. The index predicted processing speed and learning and memory but not reaction time after controlling for age, sex, race-ethnicity, immigration status, education, and the poverty-to-income ratio. Interactions between the infectious-disease index and some sociodemographic variables were also associated with neurocognitive function. In summary, an index aggregating exposure to several infectious diseases was associated with neurocognitive function in young- to middle-aged adults.
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