Immune-inflammatory markers in schizophrenia: comparison to normal controls and effects of clozapine.
The purpose of this study was to investigate immune-inflammatory markers in schizophrenia and the effects of chronic treatment with clozapine, an atypical antipsychotic agent, on these variables. Toward this end, we measured interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) and sIL-2R in the blood of 26 normal controls and 14 schizophrenic patients before and after treatment with clozapine. The sIL-2R and IL-6 levels were significantly higher in younger (< 35 years) schizophrenic subjects than in normal controls and older (> or = 35 years) schizophrenic subjects. The sIL-6R levels were significantly lower in schizophrenic subjects than in normal controls. Chronic treatment with clozapine significantly increased the blood concentration of sIL-2R; the increases in the latter were significantly related to the dose of clozapine but not to changes in severity of positive or negative symptoms. We conclude that: (a) schizophrenia in younger people is accompanied by increased IL-6 and sIL-2R secretion; and (b) subchronic treatment with clozapine increases sIL-2R levels. Increased plasma sIL-2R may be one mechanism by which neuroleptics exhibit their immunosuppressive effects.
Maes
M
M
Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106.
Meltzer
H Y
HY
Bosmans
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003024:Clozapine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000032:analysis*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D012016:Reference Values; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*
D015850:Interleukin-6; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D003024:Clozapine