Autoantibodies to serotonin in serum of patients with psychiatric disorders.
Antibodies to serotonin in serum were investigated by ELISA in patients with paranoid schizophrenia (N=27), schizoaffective psychosis (N=38), depression (N=67), Alzheimer's disease (N=21), chronic alcoholism (N=43), rheumatoid arthritis (N=25), and multiple sclerosis (N=16), and in healthy volunteers (N=60). Increased antibody reactivity to serotonin was found in schizoaffective psychosis, chronic alcoholism, and rheumatoid arthritis. Decreased antibody reactivity to serotonin was found in multiple sclerosis and depression. These anti-serotonin antibodies belong to the class of so-called natural autoantibodies. Alterations of these natural autoantibodies could indicate a disturbance to the immune system. It is possible that these antibodies could also influence receptor function. Autoantibodies to neurotransmitters in a wide spectrum of psychiatric disorders have not previously been reported.
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Osianderstr. 24, D-72076, Tübingen, Federal Republic of Germany. klaus.schott@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Klaus
K
Schott
Jacques-Emmanuel
JE
Schaefer
Elke
E
Richartz
Anil
A
Batra
Beate
B
Eusterschulte
Reinhild
R
Klein
Peter Alfred
PA
Berg
Mathias
M
Bartels
Karl
K
Mann
Gerhard
G
Buchkremer
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000276:immunology; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000276:immunology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000276:immunology; D012016:Reference Values; D012563:Schizophrenia, Paranoid / Q000276:immunology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D012701:Serotonin