Monocytic, Th1 and th2 cytokine alterations in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
A growing body of evidence suggests that changes in the serum levels and cellular production of various cytokines are associated with the immunological abnormalities of schizophrenia. Several studies have examined alterations in T helper type 1 (Th1) and T helper type 2 (Th2) cytokines in schizophrenia. We explored monocytic, Th1 and Th2 cytokines in 43 schizophrenia patients and 50 normal controls. The mitogen-induced production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-4, gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) and IL-2 was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays before and after antipsychotic treatment. IL-6 and TNF-alpha production by schizophrenic patients was significantly higher than by normal controls, while IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-gamma production was significantly lower in schizophrenic patients. After 6 weeks of antipsychotic treatment, IL-6 and TNF-alpha production was significantly decreased, while IL-4, IFN-gamma and IL-2 productions were not significantly changed. Our results suggest that increased monocytic cytokines and decreased Th1 and Th2 cytokines may be associated with the immunopathogenesis of acute psychotic schizophrenia, and that antipsychotics may play an important role in immune response by decreasing elevated monocytic cytokines.
Department of Psychiatry, Korea University, Ansan, Seoul, Korea.
Kyeong-Sae
KS
Na
Yong-Ku
YK
Kim
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016207:Cytokines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D016207:Cytokines