title: Functional characterization of the complement receptor type 1 and its circulating ligands in patients with schizophrenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Whereas the complement system alterations contribute to schizophrenia, complement receptors and regulators are little studied. We investigated complement receptor type 1 (CR1) expression on blood cells, the levels of circulating immune complexes (CIC) containing ligands of CR1, C1q complement protein and fragments of C3 complement protein (C1q-CIC, C3d-CIC), and CR1 C5507G functional polymorphism in schizophrenia patients and controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found an increased C1q-CIC level and CR1 expression on blood cells, elevated number of CR1 positive erythrocytes and reduced number of CR1 positive lymphocytes and monocytes in patients compared to controls. No difference in the levels of C3d-CIC between groups was observed. Higher CR1 expression on erythrocytes in CC genotype versus CG+GG for both groups was detected, whereas no difference was observed for other cell populations. Our results indicated that schizophrenia is associated with the increased CR1 expression and C1q-CIC level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study for the first time indicated that schizophrenia is associated with the increased CR1 expression and C1q-CIC level. Further studies in other ethnic groups are needed to replicate these findings.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Biology, National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, 7 Hasratyan St,, 0014, Yerevan, Armenia. aboyajyan@sci.am.
authors.forename: Arsen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arakelyan
authors.forename: Roksana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zakharyan
authors.forename: Aren
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khoyetsyan
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Poghosyan
authors.forename: Rouben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aroutiounian
authors.forename: Frantisek
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mrazek
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petrek
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boyajyan