The known and missing links between Toxoplasma gondii and schizophrenia

Hany M. Elsheikha; Dietrich Busselberg; Xing Quan Zhu

doi:10.1007/s11011-016-9822-1

The known and missing links between Toxoplasma gondii and schizophrenia

Hany M. Elsheikha, Dietrich Busselberg, Xing Quan Zhu

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article

20 Citations (Scopus)

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	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-016-9822-1
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

Elsheikha, H. M., Busselberg, D., & Zhu, X. Q. (2016). The known and missing links between Toxoplasma gondii and schizophrenia. Metabolic Brain Disease, 31(4), 749-759. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-016-9822-1

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10.1007/s11011-016-9822-1