An association between anti-hippocampal antibody concentration and lymphocyte production of IL-2 in patients with schizophrenia.
Serum concentrations of anti-hippocampal antibodies and in vitro production of the lymphokine interleukin-2 (IL-2) in response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation were determined using an enzyme immunoassay in 49 schizophrenic patients and 41 healthy controls. Decrease in IL-2 production, a finding frequently associated with many autoimmune diseases, was associated with an elevation in anti-hippocampal antibody optical density (AHA-OD) in schizophrenic patients. Although some control subjects had elevated antibody levels, this elevation was not associated with decreased IL-2 production. Low IL-2 production is well known to be a state marker associated with active autoimmune disease. We suggest that production of hippocampal antibody is a trait marker of vulnerability to autoimmune diseases. Thus, our finding of low IL-2 production in patients with high concentrations of hippocampal antibody is compatible with the possibility that such patients have an ongoing autoimmune process.
Yang
Z W
ZW
Immunopsychiatry Program, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2593.
Chengappa
K N
KN
Shurin
G
G
Brar
J S
JS
Rabin
B S
BS
Gubbi
A V
AV
Ganguli
R
R
D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
D001323:Autoantibodies; D007376:Interleukin-2