The beneficial effect of fluoxetine on behavioral and cognitive changes in chronic experimental Chagas disease unveils the role of serotonin fueling astrocyte infection by Trypanosoma cruzi.

Glaucia Vilar-PereiraDaniel GibaldiLeda Castaño-BarriosAndrea Alice da SilvaIsabela Resende PereiraOtacílio Cruz MoreiraConstança BrittoHílton Antônio Mata Dos SantosRaquel de Oliveira LopesLuzineide Wanderley TinocoWilson OliveiraJoseli Lannes-Vieira

Published in: PLoS neglected tropical diseases (2024)

We bring the first evidence of a sequential onset of behavioral changes in T. cruzi-infected mice. Fx therapy improves behavioral and biological changes and parasite control in the brain tissue. Moreover, in the central nervous system, cytokine-driven Ser/5-HT consumption may favor parasite persistence, disrupting neurotransmitter balance and promoting a neurotoxic environment likely contributing to behavioral and cognitive disorders.

Keyphrases

trypanosoma cruzi
plasmodium falciparum
multiple sclerosis
type diabetes
bone marrow
brain injury
skeletal muscle
high fat diet induced
mesenchymal stem cells
insulin resistance
replacement therapy