title: Antipsychotic treatment reduces psychotic symptoms and markers of low-grade inflammation in first episode psychosis patients, but increases their body mass index.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main goal of the present study was to analyze levels of cytokines of the interleukin family (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and vascular endothelial and endothelial growth factors (VEGF and EGF), in the blood samples of first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients before and seven months after the start of antipsychotic medication use.
  
  
  METHODS
  38 anti-psychotic medication-naïve FEP patients and 37 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. Biochip array technology was used to measure cytokines and growth factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The comparison of these markers in FEP patients and HC revealed significantly higher levels of EGF, IL-4 and IL-6 and significantly lower level of IL-1β in FEP patients before the antipsychotic treatment. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated significant correlations between FEP and EGF, IL-1β and smoking. Treatment with antipsychotic drugs resulted in a statistically significant amelioration of the symptoms of psychosis, but caused a significant increase in the body mass index (BMI) of patients. Levels of EGF, IL-2, VEGF, IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-8 and IL-1α were significantly lower in treated FEP patients compared to premedication levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the present study, EGF and IL-1β are markers of FEP. Antipsychotic drug treatment resulted in a significant clinical improvement of FEP patients and the suppression of positive symptoms was correlated with the decreased levels of EGF, IL-2 and IL-4. EGF was the strongest marker of FEP and treatment efficiency among the measured cytokines and growth factors.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Clinic of Tartu University Hospital, 31 Raja Street, Tartu 50417, Estonia. Electronic address: Liina.Haring@kliinikum.ee.
authors.forename: Liina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Haring
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, Tartu 50411, Estonia; Centre of Excellence for Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, Tartu 50411, Estonia. Electronic address: Kati.Koido@ut.ee.
authors.forename: Kati
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koido
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Clinic of Tartu University Hospital, 31 Raja Street, Tartu 50417, Estonia. Electronic address: Veiko.Vasar@kliinikum.ee.
authors.forename: Veiko
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vasar
authors.affiliation: Institute of Computer Science, University of Tartu, 2 Liivi Street, Tartu 50409, Estonia. Electronic address: Vambola.Leping@ut.ee.
authors.forename: Vambola
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Leping
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, Tartu 50411, Estonia; Centre of Excellence for Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, Tartu 50411, Estonia. Electronic address: Kersti.Zilmer@ut.ee.
authors.forename: Kersti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zilmer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, Tartu 50411, Estonia; Centre of Excellence for Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, Tartu 50411, Estonia. Electronic address: Mihkel.Zilmer@ut.ee.
authors.forename: Mihkel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zilmer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, Tartu 50411, Estonia; Centre of Excellence for Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, Tartu 50411, Estonia. Electronic address: Eero.Vasar@ut.ee.
authors.forename: Eero
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vasar
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D040081:Protein Array Analysis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines
keywords: Antipsychotic treatment; Cytokines; First-episode psychosis; Growth factors; Inflammation