title: Is schizophrenia caused by excessive production of interleukin-2 and interleukin-2 receptors by gastrointestinal lymphocytes?
abstract: Excessive production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-2 receptors (IL-2R) by gastrointestinal (GI) T-lymphocytes is hypothesized as the cause of schizophrenia. It is based on: 1) IL-2 given to human volunteers can cause all the symptoms of schizophrenia; 2) GI lymphocytes in nonhuman primates produce much more IL-2 and IL-2R when stimulated than peripheral blood lymphocytes; 3) the GI tract is the largest lymphoid 'organ' in the body. The hypothesis appears to: 1) explain the protective effect of rheumatoid arthritis on schizophrenia; 2) make mechanistically plausible the findings on wheat and schizophrenia; 3) be consistent with and explain many of the known immunological abnormalities in schizophrenia.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D004064:Digestive System / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008954:Models, Biological; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D014908:Triticum / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2