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Pro-inflammatory cytokine responses to Naegleria fowleri infection

Ching-Wen Chen1, E Ashley Moseman1

  • 1Department of Immunology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States.

Frontiers in Tropical Diseases
|April 17, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Naegleria fowleri causes lethal primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). This review explores the role of inflammatory cytokines, like IL-1, IL-6, and TNFα, in PAM pathogenesis and discusses their potential as immune therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Naegleria fowleri is a brain-eating amoeba causing primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).
  • PAM is a rare but highly lethal infection with a mortality rate exceeding 95%.
  • Increasing cases and geographic range of PAM have been observed over recent decades.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the unclear role of the immune response in Naegleria fowleri infection.
  • To explore the potential involvement of pro-inflammatory cytokines in PAM pathogenesis.
  • To discuss the therapeutic potential of modulating these cytokines in PAM treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on inflammatory immune responses to Naegleria fowleri.
  • Analysis of the roles of pro-inflammatory cytokines: IL-1, IL-6, and TNFα.
  • Discussion of immune-based therapeutic strategies for PAM.

Main Results:

  • The specific roles of immune responses in Naegleria fowleri infection and disease severity are not well-defined.
  • Pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1, IL-6, and TNFα, are implicated in the pathogenesis of PAM.
  • Modulating these cytokines may offer a novel therapeutic avenue for PAM.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding the immune response to Naegleria fowleri is crucial for developing effective treatments.
  • Targeting pro-inflammatory cytokines presents a promising strategy for PAM therapy.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms and optimize immune-based interventions for PAM.
Keywords:
CNS infectionNaegleria fowlerieukaryotic pathogenimmune response to Naegleriaimmunopathologyneuroinvasionolfactory infectionprimary amoebic meningoencephalitis

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