Activation of Th17 cells in drug naïve, first episode schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
The present study was to examine the role of pro-inflammatory T helper 17 (Th17) cells in drug naïve, first episode schizophrenia.


METHODS
Patients with normal weight, drug naïve, first episode schizophrenia and healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Flow cytometric analysis was performed to analyze the proportion of Th17 cells among the CD4(+) T cells. Plasma levels of interleukin-17 (IL-17), interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were examined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Psychopathology was assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). All measures were repeated for the patient group after 4 weeks of risperidone treatment.


RESULTS
Sixty-nine patients with normal weight, drug naïve, first episode schizophrenia and 60 healthy controls were enrolled. At baseline, the patient group hadz significantly higher proportions of Th17 cells and plasma levels of IFN-γ and IL-6 compared with the control group (p's<0.01). Within the patient group, there were significant positive relationships between the proportion of Th17 cells, plasma levels of IL-17, IFN-γ, IL-6 and the PANSS total score after controlling for potential confounding variables (p's<0.05). After 4weeks of risperidone treatment, the proportion of Th17 cells decreased significantly (p <0.001), and there was a significant positive relationship between the PANSS total score change rate and the change in proportion of Th17 cells (p = 0.039).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with normal weight, drug naïve, first episode schizophrenia present activation of Th17 cells, which might be associated with therapeutic response after risperidone treatment.
Henan Province Biological Psychiatry Key Laboratory, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China; Henan Province Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital/Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.
Minli
M
Ding
The First Affiliated Hospital/Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Psychotic Disorders Program, UMass Memorial Medical Center/University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States.
Xueqin
X
Song
Henan Province Biological Psychiatry Key Laboratory, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China; Henan Province Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital/Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.
Jingyuan
J
Zhao
The First Affiliated Hospital/Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
Jinsong
J
Gao
The First Affiliated Hospital/Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
Xue
X
Li
Henan Province Biological Psychiatry Key Laboratory, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China; Henan Province Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital/Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.
Ge
G
Yang
Henan Province Biological Psychiatry Key Laboratory, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China; Henan Province Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital/Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.
Xiujuan
X
Wang
Psychotic Disorders Program, UMass Memorial Medical Center/University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States.
Amy
A
Harrington
Psychotic Disorders Program, UMass Memorial Medical Center/University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States. Electronic address: Xiaoduo.fan@umassmed.edu.
Xiaoduo
X
Fan
Henan Province Biological Psychiatry Key Laboratory, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China; Henan Province Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital/Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China. Electronic address: lvluxian@126.com.
Luxian
L
Lv
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
D016207:Cytokines
IFN-γ; IL-17; IL-6; PANSS; Schizophrenia; Th17 cells