title: Elevated circulating levels of IL-6 in schizophrenia.
abstract: Schizophrenia may result from immune or inflammatory disorders, which are mediated by cytokines. Data in this field are heterogeneous and often contradictory. We investigated circulating levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha, two distinct proinflammatory cytokines. Using immunoassay, we assessed IL-6 and TNF-alpha in serum from chronic schizophrenic patients (n = 30) and normal controls (n = 15). Circulating levels of IL-6 were higher in patients than in controls; those of TNF-alpha were not significantly higher than in controls. In addition, IL-6 levels were higher in patients with acute exacerbation of schizophrenia than in patients with remissions. Our results suggest that immunologic abnormalities in schizophrenia may be related to a specific inflammatory process mediated by IL-6. An interesting line of research would be the evaluation of IL-6 cerebral production in CSF.
authors.affiliation: Service du Pr Azorin, CHU Sainte-Marguerite, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Naudin
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Mège
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Azorin
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dassa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000523:psychology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology; D012016:Reference Values; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha