Interleukin-12 plasma levels in drug-naïve patients with a first episode of psychosis: effects of antipsychotic drugs.
An overactivation of the Th1 activity in schizophrenia had been described. Interleukin-12 (IL-12), a proinflammatory cytokine, plays a key role in the regulation of the Th1 response. The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of first and second generation antipsychotic drugs on IL-12 production during the acute phase of the illness and its association with clinical features. Participants comprised 56 drug-naïve first episode psychotic patients and 28 healthy volunteers. Patients were initially randomly assigned to risperidone (n=16), olanzapine (n=20) or haloperidol (n=20); subject were maintained on the same medication throughout the study. Clinical assessments were conducted at baseline and at 6 weeks. IL-12 plasma levels were assessed at baseline and after 6 weeks of antipsychotic treatment. IL-12 haplotypes were also analysed. Patients showed higher IL-12 plasma levels at baseline compared with controls, and had a significant increase in IL-12 plasma level after 6 weeks of antipsychotic treatment. No significant differences in IL-12 level increase were found among the three antipsychotic treatments. IL-12 plasma levels at week 6 were not significantly associated with the severity of psychopathology at week 6. Thus, patients with a first episode of psychosis have inflammatory-like immunological function during early phases of the illness that it is independent of the antipsychotic treatment used.
Crespo-Facorro
Benedicto
B
University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain. bcfacorro@humv.es
Carrasco-Marín
Eugenio
E
Pérez-Iglesias
Rocío
R
Pelayo-Terán
José María
JM
Fernandez-Prieto
Lorena
L
Leyva-Cobián
Francisco
F
Vázquez-Barquero
José Luis
JL
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003710:Demography; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D000077152:Olanzapine; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018967:Risperidone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D018664:Interleukin-12; D006220:Haloperidol; D018967:Risperidone; D000077152:Olanzapine