Title:
From Toxoplasmosis to Schizophrenia via NMDA Dysfunction
Subtitle:
Peptide Overlap between Toxoplasma gondii and N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Receptors As a Potential Mechanistic Link
Author(s):
Lucchese, Guglielmo
Year of publication:
2017
Available Date:
2017-04-06T05:51:51.904Z
Abstract:
The present work aims at investigating how Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii)
infection may be linked to N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) dysfunction
in schizophrenia and related disorders and puts forward the hypothesis that
immune responses against T. gondii may involve NMDARs. Indeed, the analysis of
the protozoan proteome and NMDAR subunits for peptide commonalities shows a
massive peptide overlap and supports the possibility that anti-T. gondii
immune responses raised during active protozoan infection may cross-react with
host NMDARs, determining disruption of neural circuits and cognitive deficits.
In particular, the NMDA 2D subunit, which is mainly expressed in parvalbumin-
positive interneurons, appears to be a hotspot for potential T. gondii-induced
cross-reactive immune attacks.
Keywords:
Toxoplasma gondii
N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors
NMDA 2D
peptide commonality
immune cross-reactivity
schizophrenia
parvalbumin-positive interneurons
gamma oscillations
DDC-Classification:
150 Psychologie
570 Biowissenschaften; Biologie
Publication Type:
Wissenschaftlicher Artikel
Also published in:
Front. Psychiatry. - 8 (2017), Artikel Nr. 37
URL of the Original Publication:
DOI of the Original Publication:
Department/institution:
Philosophie und Geisteswissenschaften
Comments:
Gefördert durch die DFG und den Open-Access-Publikationsfonds der Freien Universität Berlin.