title: Role of C-reactive protein in schizophrenia: an overview.
abstract: Over the years, schizophrenia is speculated to be associated with immune or inflammatory reactions mediated by cytokines. It is proposed that chronic inflammation might damage the micro-vascular system of brain and hamper cerebral blood flow. Scientific evidence suggests that an increase of stress hormone like norepinephrine may activate the inflammatory arm of the immune system and trigger the expression of genes that cause chronic, low-grade inflammation. Thus, studies were conducted to decipher the potentiality of CRP as a marker for inflammation in schizophrenia. This article reviews the findings of CRP in schizophrenia, and the limitations of the previous studies have been discussed. The importance of simultaneous study of CRP modulating cytokines and CRP gene polymorphism in the study of serum or plasma level of CRP has been emphasized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Balurghat College, Blaurghat, Dakshin Dinajpur, 733101, West Bengal, India; Cellular Immunology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of North Bengal, Siliguri 734013, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Bisu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Cellular Immunology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of North Bengal, Siliguri 734013, West Bengal, India. Electronic address: dr_tkc_nbu@rediffmail.com.
authors.forename: Tapas Kumar
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Chaudhuri
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: C-reactive protein; IL-6; Inflammation; Schizophrenia