Article
Chronic infection with Mycobacterium lepraemurium induces alterations in the hippocampus associated with memory loss
Registro en:
Becerril Villalnueva, E. et. al. (2018) Chronic infection with Mycobacterium lepraemurium induces alterations in the hippocampus associated with memory loss. Scientific Reports. Vol. 8:9063
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/s41598-018-27352-x
Autor
Becerril Villanueva, Enrique
Ponce Regalado, María Dolores
Pérez Sánchez, Gilberto
Salazar Juárez, Alberto
Arreola, Rodrigo
Álvarez Sánchez, María Elizbeth
Juárez Ortega, Mario
Falfán Valencia, Ramcés
Hernández Pando, Rogelio
Morales Montor, Jorge
Pavón, Lenin
Rojas Espinosa, Oscar
Institución
Resumen
Murine leprosy, caused by Mycobacterium lepraemurium (MLM), is a chronic disease that closely resembles human leprosy. Even though this disease does not directly involve the nervous system, we investigated a possible effect on working memory during this chronic infection in Balb/c mice. We evaluated alterations in the dorsal region of the hippocampus and measured peripheral levels of cytokines at 40, 80, and 120 days post-infection. To evaluate working memory, we used the T-maze while a morphometric analysis was conducted in the hippocampus regions CA1, CA2, CA3, and dentate gyrus (DG) to measure morphological changes. In addition, a neurochemical analysis was performed by HPLC. Our results show that, at 40 days post-infection, there was an increase in the bacillary load in the liver and spleen associated to increased levels of IL-4, working memory deterioration, and changes in hippocampal morphology, including degeneration in the four subregions analyzed. Also, we found a decrease in neurotransmitter levels at the same time of infection. Although MLM does not directly infect the nervous system, these findings suggest a possible functional link between the immune system and the central nervous system. Department of Psychoimmunology, National Institute of Psychiatry “Ramón de la Fuente”, Calzada México Xochimilco 101, Colonia San Lorenzo Huipulco, Tlalpan, 14370, México City, México.
Departamento de Clínicas, Centro Universitario de los Altos, Universidad de Guadalajara, Tepatitlán de Morelos, Jalisco, México.
Branch Clinical Research. Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology and Neurochemistry of Addiction, National Institute of Psychiatry “Ramón de la Fuente”, Calzada México-Xochimilco 101, Colonia San Lorenzo Huipulco, Tlalpan, 14370, México City, México.
Psychiatric Genetics Department, National Institute of Psychiatry “Ramón de la Fuente”, Clinical Research Branch, Calzada México-Xochimilco 101, Colonia San Lorenzo Huipulco, Tlalpan, 14370, México City, México.
Posgrado en Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México (UACM), San Lorenzo # 290, Col. Del Valle, CP 03100, México City, México.
Departamento de Inmunología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Carpio y Plan de Ayala, Colonia Santo Tomás, 11340, Ciudad de México, México.
HLA Laboratory, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas, Tlalpan 4502, Sección XVI, Tlalpan, 14080, México City, México.
Experimental Pathology Section, Pathology Department, National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubiran, Vasco de Quiroga 15, Colonia Belisario Dominguez Seccion XVI, 14080, Tlalpan, México City, México.
Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas AP 70228, México, DF, 04510, México