Leishmania amazonensis infection induces behavioral alterations and modulates cytokine and neurotrophin production in the murine cerebral cortex

•Leishmania amazonensis modulates cytokines/neurothrophins in the prefrontal cortex.•Anxiety-like behavior was observed at 2-4 months post-infection.•The modulation of cytokines in the cortex precedes the arrival of the parasite.•Parasite DNA was found in prefrontal cortex after 4 months post-infection.•TNF-α and IBA-1 was up regulated with the arrival of the parasites in the prefrontal cortex.

Neurological symptoms have been associated with Leishmania infection, however little is known about how the nervous system is affected in leishmaniasis. This work aimed to analyze parasitic load, production of cytokines/neurotrophins in the prefrontal cortex and behavioral changes in BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania amazonensis. At 2 and 4 months post-infection, infected mice showed a decrease in IFN-γ, IL-1, IL-6, IL-4, IL-10 cytokines and BDNF and NGF neurotrophins in prefrontal cortex associated with increased anxiety behavior. Parasite DNA was found in brain of all animals at 4 months post-infection, when the levels of IBA-1 (activated macrophage/microglia marker) and TNF-α was increased in the prefrontal cortex. However TNF-α returned to normal levels at 6 months post-infection suggesting a neuroprotective mechanism.

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