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Metabolic Brain Disease
Published in: Metabolic Brain Disease 4/2016

01-08-2016 | Review Article

The known and missing links between Toxoplasma gondii and schizophrenia

Authors: Hany M. Elsheikha, Dietrich Büsselberg, Xing-Quan Zhu

Published in: Metabolic Brain Disease | Issue 4/2016

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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.
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Metadata
Title
The known and missing links between Toxoplasma gondii and schizophrenia
Authors
Hany M. Elsheikha
Dietrich Büsselberg
Xing-Quan Zhu
Publication date
01-08-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Metabolic Brain Disease / Issue 4/2016
Print ISSN: 0885-7490
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7365
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-016-9822-1

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