Platelet Rich Plasma as a Potential Therapy for Chronic Toxoplasmosis in Immunocompetent and Immunocompromised Murine Model

Bibliographic Information
Authors: Wakid M.H.; Zalat R.S.; Hammam O.A.; Alsulami M.N.; El-Wakil E.S.
Journal: Pharmaceuticals
Publisher: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Publication Date: 8 June 2026
Volume / Issue: Volume 19 / Issue 6
Article No.: 908
ISSN: 14248247
DOI: 10.3390/ph19060908
Scopus: View on Scopus
Document Type: Article
Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access
Authors and Affiliations
Wakid M.H., Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 22254, Saudi Arabia, Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 22254, Saudi Arabia; Zalat R.S., Department of Parasitology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Warrak El-Hadar, Giza, Imbaba, 12411, Egypt; Hammam O.A., Department of Pathology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Kornaish El-Nile St., Giza, 12411, Egypt; Alsulami M.N., Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia; El-Wakil E.S., Department of Parasitology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Warrak El-Hadar, Giza, Imbaba, 12411, Egypt
Abstract
Background: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is one of the most prevalent parasitic zoonoses worldwide, and the host’s immunological state significantly influences its clinical manifestations, which can be potentially fatal in immunocompromised hosts. The unavailability of a vaccine, combined with the considerable toxicity of existing medications, necessitates the urgent search for new therapies or adjunctive techniques, including regenerative and immunomodulatory approaches. Hence, the present study investigated, for the first time, the therapeutic potential of syngeneic platelet rich plasma (PRP) against T. gondii ME49 strain-induced chronic toxoplasmosis in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed mouse models. Methods: 72 albino mice were divided into two sections, immunocompetent and immunosuppressed. Each section contained six groups: healthy, model, cotrimoxazole (CTZ)-treated, PRP-treated, half-dose of both CTZ and PRP-treated, and full-dose of both CTZ and PRP-treated. Treatment efficacy was assessed via parasitological, histological, immunohistochemical, and immunological analyses. Results: PRP, especially when coadministered with the CTZ, mitigated the consequences of toxoplasmosis by significantly reducing brain cyst counts (p < 0.0001), restoring brain tissue architecture, modulating apoptotic pathways by restoring caspase-3 expression in the brain, and normalizing systemic IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-10 cytokine profiles. Conclusions: The findings highlight PRP as an adjunct to the reference treatment, CTZ, for controlling toxoplasmosis in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed conditions via anti-infective, neuroprotective, and immunomodulatory activities. © 2026 by the authors.
Keywords
adjunctive techniques; caspase-3; cotrimoxazole; platelet-rich plasma; Toxoplasma gondii ME-49; caspase 3; dexamethasone; gamma interferon; gamma1b interferon; interleukin 10; isoflurane; tumor necrosis factor; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; apoptosis; Article; brain cyst; brain homogenate; controlled study; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; histology; histopathology; immunocompetent cell; immunocompromised patient; immunofluorescence; immunohistochemistry; immunosuppressive treatment; male; mouse; murine model; nerve cell degeneration; neuroprotection; nonhuman; thrombocyte rich plasma
Citation Information
Scopus Citations: 0
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