Impact of gold nanoparticles on brain of mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a condition characterized by high rates of morbidity and cognitive impairment. It afflicts many people in tropical and sub-tropical countries. Our study aimed to investigate the protective role of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) on the brain of mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni. Characterizations of GNPs were determined by using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Three doses of GNPs (0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/kg body weight) were used to treat animals after S. mansoni infection. The infection induced impairments in histological picture as a result of schistosome infection resulting in a disturbance in the content of the brain neurotransmitters, norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA). Also, the infection induced significant reduction in glutathione level; oppositely, the levels of nitric oxide and malondialdehyde were increased significantly. In addition, S. mansoni was able to disregulate the infected mice brain Cacnb4, Cabp4, Vdac3, Glrb, and Adam23 messenger RNA (mRNA). On the other hand, treatment of mice with GNPs could alleviate the histological impairments, the changes in the content of NE and DA, and the brain oxidative damage. Also, GNPs could regulate the gene expression due to S. mansoni infection. Generally, GNPs could decrease the neurooxidative stress and regulated the gene expression in the brain of infected mice. Consequently, our results revealed an anti-neuroschistosomal effect of GNPs in mice infected with S. mansoni.

Evaluation of nanoselenium and nanogold activities against murine intestinal schistosomiasis

“…On the other hand, treatment with SeNPs and GNPs to schistosome infected mice decreased the jejunal oxidative stress significantly. Our results are in agreement with Dkhil et al, 2015a, Dkhil et al, 2015b, Dkhil et al, 2016a, Dkhil et al, 2016b, Dkhil et al, 2017, and Bhattacharjee et al (2017).…”

“…Antischistosomal role of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) against hepatic injury in mice was demonstrated by Dkhil et al (2016a), additionally, the team has presented the antischistosomal activity of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) in different tissues of mice e.g. liver, brain, kidney and spleen respectively (Dkhil et al, 2015a, Dkhil et al, 2015b, Dkhil et al, 2016a, Dkhil et al, 2016b, Dkhil et al, 2017, Pica-Mattoccia et al, 2009).…”

“…Therefore, looking for other safe and effective antischistosomal drugs to replace, or be used in association with PZQ, was and still is a necessity. Therefore, the current research is an extension to a series of studies made by Dkhil et al, 2015a, Dkhil et al, 2015b, Dkhil et al, 2016a, Dkhil et al, 2016b, Dkhil et al, 2017 to address the therapeutic antischistosomal effects of the NPs of both selenium and gold on the jejunum of mice infected with the S. mansoni .…”

Antioxidant and hepatoprotective role of gold nanoparticles against murine hepatic schistosomiasis

“…Moreover, AuNPs reduced the hepatic worm burden compared to the infected group. This supports Dkhil et al 32 deduction that treatment of infected schistosome mice with AuNPs reduced the extent of the histological disturbances evident in the brains of infected mice.…”

“…34 Neuroschistosomiasis, meanwhile, also induces a reduction in GSH level and an increase in nitrite/nitrate and MDA levels, but it has been shown that injection of AuNPs (0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/kg) into schistosome-infected mice ameliorates the GSH level and reduces levels of nitrite/nitrate and MDA in the brain tissue. 32 In the present study, injection of AuNPs (0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/kg) into schistosome-infected mice resulted in a significant downregulation of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and iNOS mRNA expressions in hepatic tissue versus infected mice.…”