title: Decreased serum TNF-alpha levels in chronic schizophrenia patients on long-term antipsychotics: correlation with psychopathology and cognition.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A substantial body of evidence implicates TNF-alpha (TNFα) and TNFα-related signaling pathways in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The current study examined the relationship between TNFα serum levels and both psychopathological as well as cognitive symptoms in schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum TNFα levels were assessed in 89 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and compared to 43 healthy control subjects matched for age and gender. Schizophrenic symptomatology was assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and serum TNFα levels were measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  TNFα levels were significantly lower in patients with chronic schizophrenia relative to healthy control subjects (p<0.01). Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between the TNFα levels and the PANSS total score (p<0.01). Additionally, TNFα levels were significantly negatively correlated with scores on general psychopathology (p<0.01), positive (p<0.05) and cognitive subscales (p<0.05). Stepwise multiple regression analysis identified TNFα levels as a significant predictor of scores on the general psychopathology subscale of the PANSS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The significant relations observed in the current study between TNFα and the PANSS and its subscales suggest that immune disturbance may be involved in the psychopathology and cognitive deficits of schizophrenia.
authors: Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors: Meng Han
authors: MH
authors: Lv
authors: Yun Long
authors: YL
authors: Tan
authors: Shao Xiao
authors: SX
authors: Yan
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Tian
authors: Da Chun
authors: DC
authors: Chen
authors: Shu Ping
authors: SP
authors: Tan
authors: Zhi Ren
authors: ZR
authors: Wang
authors: Fu De
authors: FD
authors: Yang
authors: Jin H
authors: JH
authors: Yoon
authors: Giovana B
authors: GB
authors: Zunta-Soares
authors: Jair C
authors: JC
authors: Soares
authors: Xiang Yang
authors: XY
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011599:Psychopathology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha