title: From Toxoplasmosis to SchizophreniaviaNMDA Dysfunction: Peptide Overlap betweenToxoplasma gondiiandN-Methyl-d-Aspartate Receptors As a Potential Mechanistic Link.
abstract: The present work aims at investigating howToxoplasma gondii(T. gondii) infection may be linked toN-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) dysfunction in schizophrenia and related disorders and puts forward the hypothesis that immune responses againstT. gondiimay 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. gondiiimmune 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 potentialT. gondii-induced cross-reactive immune attacks.
authors.affiliation: Brain Language Laboratory, Freie Universtät Berlin , Berlin , Germany.
authors.forename: Guglielmo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lucchese
keywords: N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors; NMDA 2D; Toxoplasma gondii; gamma oscillations; immune cross-reactivity; parvalbumin-positive interneurons; peptide commonality; schizophrenia