Immunomodulatory potential of Toxoplasma gondii lysate in C57BL/6 mouse model of autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Abstract Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation and demyelination within the central nervous system. Immunotherapy is an essential part of managing MS symptoms and progression. This study aimed to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of To...

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Main Authors: Maryam Hajizadeh, Seyedmousa Motavallihaghi, Elham Badakhsh, Tohid Kazemi, Abdol Sattar Pagheh, Kareem Hatam-Nahavandi, Ehsan Ahmadpour
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-06-01
Series:AMB Express
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-025-01900-x
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author Maryam Hajizadeh
Seyedmousa Motavallihaghi
Elham Badakhsh
Tohid Kazemi
Abdol Sattar Pagheh
Kareem Hatam-Nahavandi
Ehsan Ahmadpour
author_facet Maryam Hajizadeh
Seyedmousa Motavallihaghi
Elham Badakhsh
Tohid Kazemi
Abdol Sattar Pagheh
Kareem Hatam-Nahavandi
Ehsan Ahmadpour
author_sort Maryam Hajizadeh
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation and demyelination within the central nervous system. Immunotherapy is an essential part of managing MS symptoms and progression. This study aimed to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of Toxoplasma gondii lysate antigens (TLA) in a C57BL/6 mouse model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Eighteen mice were randomly assigned into three groups: healthy controls, EAE-induced mice, and EAE-induced mice treated with TLA. Clinical scores were recorded daily for all mice. To assess immune responses, mRNA and protein expression levels in isolated splenocytes were measured using quantitative real-time PCR and ELISA, respectively. In addition, histological analyses were performed to evaluate inflammation and demyelination across the experimental groups. TLA-treated mice exhibited significantly reduced clinical scores and demyelination compared to the untreated EAE group. The treatment also decreased inflammatory cell infiltration in CNS tissues. At the molecular level, TLA modulated cytokine expression by downregulating pro-inflammatory markers (IFN-γ, IL-17, RORγT) and upregulating anti-inflammatory and regulatory markers (IL-4, GATA3, FOXP3, TGF-β, TNF-α). TLA treatment demonstrated immunomodulatory and neuroprotective effects in EAE mice, suggesting its potential as a prophylactic or therapeutic agent in MS. These findings support further exploration of parasitic antigens in the context of autoimmune neuroinflammatory diseases.
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spelling doaj-art-cd61409d52db47b9a5b41a367e562b3f2025-08-20T03:21:06ZengSpringerOpenAMB Express2191-08552025-06-0115111010.1186/s13568-025-01900-xImmunomodulatory potential of Toxoplasma gondii lysate in C57BL/6 mouse model of autoimmune encephalomyelitisMaryam Hajizadeh0Seyedmousa Motavallihaghi1Elham Badakhsh2Tohid Kazemi3Abdol Sattar Pagheh4Kareem Hatam-Nahavandi5Ehsan Ahmadpour6Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical SciencesInfectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical SciencesImmunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical SciencesInfectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical SciencesIranshahr University of Medical SciencesInfectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical SciencesAbstract Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation and demyelination within the central nervous system. Immunotherapy is an essential part of managing MS symptoms and progression. This study aimed to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of Toxoplasma gondii lysate antigens (TLA) in a C57BL/6 mouse model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Eighteen mice were randomly assigned into three groups: healthy controls, EAE-induced mice, and EAE-induced mice treated with TLA. Clinical scores were recorded daily for all mice. To assess immune responses, mRNA and protein expression levels in isolated splenocytes were measured using quantitative real-time PCR and ELISA, respectively. In addition, histological analyses were performed to evaluate inflammation and demyelination across the experimental groups. TLA-treated mice exhibited significantly reduced clinical scores and demyelination compared to the untreated EAE group. The treatment also decreased inflammatory cell infiltration in CNS tissues. At the molecular level, TLA modulated cytokine expression by downregulating pro-inflammatory markers (IFN-γ, IL-17, RORγT) and upregulating anti-inflammatory and regulatory markers (IL-4, GATA3, FOXP3, TGF-β, TNF-α). TLA treatment demonstrated immunomodulatory and neuroprotective effects in EAE mice, suggesting its potential as a prophylactic or therapeutic agent in MS. These findings support further exploration of parasitic antigens in the context of autoimmune neuroinflammatory diseases.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-025-01900-xMultiple sclerosisToxoplasmosisImmunomodulatoryAutoimmuneInflammation
spellingShingle Maryam Hajizadeh
Seyedmousa Motavallihaghi
Elham Badakhsh
Tohid Kazemi
Abdol Sattar Pagheh
Kareem Hatam-Nahavandi
Ehsan Ahmadpour
Immunomodulatory potential of Toxoplasma gondii lysate in C57BL/6 mouse model of autoimmune encephalomyelitis
AMB Express
Multiple sclerosis
Toxoplasmosis
Immunomodulatory
Autoimmune
Inflammation
title Immunomodulatory potential of Toxoplasma gondii lysate in C57BL/6 mouse model of autoimmune encephalomyelitis
title_full Immunomodulatory potential of Toxoplasma gondii lysate in C57BL/6 mouse model of autoimmune encephalomyelitis
title_fullStr Immunomodulatory potential of Toxoplasma gondii lysate in C57BL/6 mouse model of autoimmune encephalomyelitis
title_full_unstemmed Immunomodulatory potential of Toxoplasma gondii lysate in C57BL/6 mouse model of autoimmune encephalomyelitis
title_short Immunomodulatory potential of Toxoplasma gondii lysate in C57BL/6 mouse model of autoimmune encephalomyelitis
title_sort immunomodulatory potential of toxoplasma gondii lysate in c57bl 6 mouse model of autoimmune encephalomyelitis
topic Multiple sclerosis
Toxoplasmosis
Immunomodulatory
Autoimmune
Inflammation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-025-01900-x
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