Epidemiological aspects and inflammatory cytokine profiles associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection in suicide attempters in Iran

Our study revealed that individuals who have attempted suicide exhibited a greater seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies compared to healthy control subjects. We also exhibited elevated serum and expression levels of IL-6 and IFN-γ, as the main proinflammatory cytokines linked to suicide behaviors, in the AS patients who tested positive for T. gondii antibodies. Consequently, this may aid in the identification of biomarkers that could inform the development of effective prevention strategies and ultimately reduce suicide mortality. The findings of the study indicate that while there may be a causal link between T. gondii infection and suicide attempts, the cross-sectional nature of the data may restrict the ability to draw definitive causal inferences. To substantiate this potential causal relationship, longitudinal studies that incorporate larger sample sizes, investigate additional biomarkers related to suicide, and control for various confounding variables would be beneficial.