Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular protozoan parasite, has a striking predilection for infecting the Central Nervous System and has been linked to an increased incidence of a number of psychiatric diseases. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that T. gondii infection can affect the structure, bioenergetics and function of brain cells, and alters several host cell processes, including dopaminergic, tryptophan-kynurenine, GABAergic, AKT1, Jak/STAT, and vasopressinergic pathways. These mechanisms underlying the neuropathology of latent toxoplasmosis seem to operate also in schizophrenia, supporting the link between the two disorders. Better understanding of the intricate parasite-neuroglial communications holds the key to unlocking the mystery of T. gondii-mediated schizophrenia and offers substantial prospects for the development of disease-modifying therapies.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 749-759 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Metabolic Brain Disease |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Aug 2016 |
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Keywords
- Host-pathogen interaction
- Mental illness
- Psychosis
- Schizophrenia
- Toxoplasma gondii
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry
- Clinical Neurology
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
Cite this
The known and missing links between Toxoplasma gondii and schizophrenia. / Elsheikha, Hany M.; Busselberg, Dietrich; Zhu, Xing Quan.
In: Metabolic Brain Disease, Vol. 31, No. 4, 01.08.2016, p. 749-759.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The known and missing links between Toxoplasma gondii and schizophrenia
AU - Elsheikha, Hany M.
AU - Busselberg, Dietrich
AU - Zhu, Xing Quan
PY - 2016/8/1
Y1 - 2016/8/1
N2 - Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular protozoan parasite, has a striking predilection for infecting the Central Nervous System and has been linked to an increased incidence of a number of psychiatric diseases. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that T. gondii infection can affect the structure, bioenergetics and function of brain cells, and alters several host cell processes, including dopaminergic, tryptophan-kynurenine, GABAergic, AKT1, Jak/STAT, and vasopressinergic pathways. These mechanisms underlying the neuropathology of latent toxoplasmosis seem to operate also in schizophrenia, supporting the link between the two disorders. Better understanding of the intricate parasite-neuroglial communications holds the key to unlocking the mystery of T. gondii-mediated schizophrenia and offers substantial prospects for the development of disease-modifying therapies.
AB - Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular protozoan parasite, has a striking predilection for infecting the Central Nervous System and has been linked to an increased incidence of a number of psychiatric diseases. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that T. gondii infection can affect the structure, bioenergetics and function of brain cells, and alters several host cell processes, including dopaminergic, tryptophan-kynurenine, GABAergic, AKT1, Jak/STAT, and vasopressinergic pathways. These mechanisms underlying the neuropathology of latent toxoplasmosis seem to operate also in schizophrenia, supporting the link between the two disorders. Better understanding of the intricate parasite-neuroglial communications holds the key to unlocking the mystery of T. gondii-mediated schizophrenia and offers substantial prospects for the development of disease-modifying therapies.
KW - Host-pathogen interaction
KW - Mental illness
KW - Psychosis
KW - Schizophrenia
KW - Toxoplasma gondii
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84962030720&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84962030720&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11011-016-9822-1
DO - 10.1007/s11011-016-9822-1
M3 - Review article
VL - 31
SP - 749
EP - 759
JO - Metabolic Brain Disease
JF - Metabolic Brain Disease
SN - 0885-7490
IS - 4
ER -