مقالات پذیرفته شده در سومین کنگره بین المللی زیست پزشکی
Cryptic influences of T.gondii infection on human life
Cryptic influences of T.gondii infection on human life
Geita Saadatnia,1Marjan Enshaeieh,2,*
1. Department of Biotechnology, Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology (IROST), Tehran, Iran 2. Department of Biotechnology, Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology (IROST), Tehran, Iran
Introduction: Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite with an extensive range of intermediate hosts. Nowadays this parasite attracts lots of attention because of various impacts on human health especially in latent phase. In the chronic phase this parasite shows highlighted link with various psychiatric disorders. T. gondii chronic infection is related with several brain disorders in both mothers and their newborns. This infection is also the reason of several abnormalities in reproductive organs. T. gondii can exist intracellularly in the brain cells throughout the whole life of the host, having the ability of modifying neural structure or functional changes in the host behaviors. There are evidences for association of several neuropsychiatric disorders and abnormalities with latent toxoplasmosis.
Methods: The mechanisms which implicat T. gondii in the etiology of various mental disorders are not fully understood. A direct impact of the parasite on the brain cells, immune modulator mechanisms and also effects on neurotransmitters concentration was suggested. The parasite can encyst in both neurons and also in glial cells like astrocytes, which has a direct impact on the function of neuronal cells. T. gondii can effect on the CNS by inducing various changes in neurotransmitters pathway such as dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin and other neurotransmitters. The recent change which is induced by T.gondii is of high importance due to neurotransmitters concentrations involvement in schizophrenic patients especially in dopamine and gamma amino butyric acid. Astrocytes activation during toxoplasma infection, can also increase kynurenic acid synthesis leading to inhibition of glutamine and nicotine receptors in the brain which finally result in cognitive symptoms.
Results: Some cryptic aspects of T.gondii infection like the potential association of it with suicide attempts and different impacts on various metabolism will be discussed in this review. This infection can influence immune inflammatory response which can lead to developing various disorders especially involved in central nervous system. Here, a comprehensive study on various impacts of the latent phase of toxoplasma infection will be done. Mental health disorders not only place an enormous burden on the individuals and families which are directly affected, but also upon the society. According to this it is of essential need to understand the etiology of many mental health issues which remains poorly understood. Mental health disorders often have complex etiology which is a combination of both genetic and environmental parameters, with complicated interactions with neurological or immunological networks so it is of essential need to research more for the possible link between parasitic infections and mental disorders.
Conclusion: Some essential priorities are needed to provide a basic foundation for developing critical knowledge in this field which are as follow: first about the direct effect of parasitic infections on the brain and neural cells; second how the immune system response can be triggered by parasitic infections and affects mental health; third the potential link between the infections and mental disorders, including the effect of parasite on neurotransmitters concentration. Thus, the goal of this review was not only to assemble current data on potential link between psychotic disorders and parasite infection, but also to focus on the gaps in this pathway.