title: Abnormalities in serum concentrations of interleukin-2, interferon-alpha and interferon-gamma in schizophrenia not detected.
abstract: The hypothesis of an immunological defect in schizophrenia has been supported by reports on abnormal production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferons (IFNs) in schizophrenic patients. In the present study we determined the serum concentrations of IL-2, IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma in 10 first onset, neuroleptic-naive schizophrenics, in 6 pretreated patients who were drug free (1 week to 2 years) at the time of the investigation and in 15 matched healthy controls. No IFN-alpha was detected in schizophrenics' and in control sera. No differences were found in IL-2 and IFN-gamma levels between schizophrenics and controls. Thus the present study failed to support the hypothesis of an immunological abnormality in schizophrenia on the basis of the determination of IL-2 and IFNs serum levels.
authors.affiliation: Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Gattaz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dalgalarrondo
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Schröder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000097:blood*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012016:Reference Values; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D012563:Schizophrenia, Paranoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007371:Interferon-gamma