Increase in expression of adhesion molecule receptors on T helper cells during antipsychotic treatment and relationship to blood-brain barrier permeability in schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
The authors estimated the expression of adhesion molecule receptors (VLA-4 and LFA-1) on T helper (CD4+) and T suppressor/cytotoxic (CD8+) lymphocytes in schizophrenic patients before and during antipsychotic treatment and studied the relationship of these subpopulations to CSF measures and blood-brain barrier permeability.


METHODS
Blood was drawn from hospitalized patients with schizophrenia before (N = 45) and after (N = 22) neuroleptic treatment and from an age-matched comparison group (N = 41). Lumbar punctures were performed on 32 of the schizophrenic patients.


RESULTS
During antipsychotic treatment there were significant increases in the percentage of VLA-4+/CD4+ and VLA-4+/CD8+ cells. VLA-4+/CD4+ and LFA-1+/CD4+ cells were both closely related to disturbance of the blood-brain barrier. Higher values for VLA-4+/CD4+ and LFA-1+/CD4+ cells were found in patients with a disturbed blood-brain barrier.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that adhesion molecules are involved in immunoregulation between the central nervous system and the peripheral immune system in schizophrenia.
Müller
N
N
Psychiatric Hospital, Ludwig-Maximillian University, Munich, Germany. nmueller@psy.med.uni-muenchen.de
Riedel
M
M
Hadjamu
M
M
Schwarz
M J
MJ
Ackenheil
M
M
Gruber
R
R
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D039041:Integrin alpha4beta1; D016023:Integrins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010539:Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D016029:Receptors, Very Late Antigen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D039041:Integrin alpha4beta1; D016023:Integrins; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing; D016029:Receptors, Very Late Antigen; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1