Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
Volume 23, Issue 9, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094931
Keywords
Acanthamoeba spp; brain-derived neurotrophic factor; nerve growth factor; neurotrophin-3; neurotrophin-4; cerebral cortex; hippocampus; immunological status
Funding
- Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin
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This study aims to investigate the role of neurotrophins in Acanthamoeba spp. infections in the brain. The results suggest that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) may have neuroprotective effects in immunocompetent hosts, while nerve growth factor (NGF) may have a pro-inflammatory effect in immunosuppressed hosts during acanthamoebiasis.
To date, no studies have addressed the role of neurotrophins (NTs) in Acanthamoeba spp. infections in the brain. Thus, to clarify the role of NTs in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus during experimental acanthamoebiasis in relation to the host immune status, the purpose of this study was to determine whether Acanthamoeba spp. may affect the concentration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), and neurotrophin-4 (NT-4) in brain structures. Our results suggest that at the beginning of infection in immunocompetent hosts, BDNF and NT-3 may reflect an endogenous attempt at neuroprotection against Acanthamoeba spp. infection. We also observed a pro-inflammatory effect of NGF during acanthamoebiasis in immunosuppressed hosts. This may provide important information for understanding the development of cerebral acanthamoebiasis related to the immunological status of the host. However, the pathogenesis of brain acanthamoebiasis is still poorly understood and documented and, therefore, requires further research.
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