Infections of Cryptococcus species induce degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and accumulation of α-Synuclein in Caenorhabditis elegans
Issued Date
2022-10-26
Resource Type
eISSN
22352988
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85141628155
Pubmed ID
36389163
Journal Title
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
Volume
12
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology Vol.12 (2022)
Suggested Citation
Kitisin T., Muangkaew W., Sukphopetch P. Infections of Cryptococcus species induce degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and accumulation of α-Synuclein in Caenorhabditis elegans. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology Vol.12 (2022). doi:10.3389/fcimb.2022.1039336 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/84884
Title
Infections of Cryptococcus species induce degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and accumulation of α-Synuclein in Caenorhabditis elegans
Author(s)
Author's Affiliation
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Cryptococcosis in the central nervous system (CNS) can present with motor declines described as Parkinsonism. Although several lines of evidence indicate that dopaminergic (DA) neuron degeneration and α-synuclein accumulation contribute to the hallmark of Parkinsonism and Parkinson’s disease (PD), little is known about cryptococcal infections associated with neuronal degeneration. In this study, the effects of Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii infections on dopaminergic neuron degeneration, α-synuclein accumulation, and lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans were investigated. The results showed that cryptococcal infections significantly (P<0.05) induced DA neuron degeneration similar to a selective cathecholamine neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in C. elegans (BZ555 strain) when compared to mock infected controls. Cryptococcal infections also significantly (P< 0.05) induced α-synuclein aggregation in C. elegans (NL5901 strain). Moreover, lifespan of the infected worms was significantly decreased (P<0.0001). In conclusion, DA neurodegeneration and α-synuclein accumulation are associated with lifespan reduction during cryptococcal infection in C elegans.