Plasma levels of Th17-related cytokines and complement C3 correlated with aggressive behavior in patients with schizophrenia.
Increasing evidence indicates that immune inflammatory processes, especially autoimmune reaction, should be considered in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and aggressive behavior. The present study aimed to explore the correlation between immune factors (C3 and Th17-related cytokines) and aggressive behavior in schizophrenia patients. Forty schizophrenia patients and forty age- and gender-matched healthy controls participated in the study. Blood samples were assessed by ELISA upon enrollment. Positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) and modified overt aggression scale (MOAS) were used to estimate the severity and aggressive symptoms of schizophrenia patients. Plasma levels of IL-17, IL-23, and TGF-β1 in schizophrenia patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls [(37.63±17.82) vs. (29.34±10.38)pg/ml, p=0.02; (101.40±135.26) vs. (13.09±5.94) pg/ml, p=0.01; (2864.57±2163.61) vs. (1839.69±1797.73)pg/ml, p=0.04], whereas C3 levels were significantly lower in schizophrenia patients [( 120,479.67± 65,612.50) vs. ( 208,060.21± 217,008.21)ng/ml, p=0.02]. IL-17, IL-23, and TGF-β1 levels were positively related to total scores of MOAS (p=0.02, p=0.02 and p=0.03, respectively) and PANSS (p=0.04, p=0.04 and p=0.02, respectively), whereas C3 levels were negatively related to total PANSS scores (p=0.03). IL-17 and IL-23 levels were positively correlated with PANSS excited component scores (p=0.04 and p=0.01, respectively). Our findings suggested that the Th17-related cytokine levels were positively related to the severity of schizophrenia and aggressive behavior, whereas C3 levels were negatively related to the severity of schizophrenia. This study demonstrated that elevated levels of Th17-related cytokines and decreased levels of C3 could be potential biomarkers for schizophrenia and aggressive behavior.
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai Forensic Service Platform, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, PR China, Shanghai, China; Division of Mood Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Haozhe
H
Li
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai Forensic Service Platform, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, PR China, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: zhangqinting@126.com.
Qinting
Q
Zhang
Division of Mood Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Ningning
N
Li
Division of Mood Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Fan
F
Wang
Division of Mood Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Hui
H
Xiang
Division of Mood Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Zongfeng
Z
Zhang
Division of Mood Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Yousong
Y
Su
Division of Mood Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Yueqi
Y
Huang
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai Forensic Service Platform, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, PR China, Shanghai, China.
Shengyu
S
Zhang
Division of Mood Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Guoqing
G
Zhao
Division of Mood Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Rubai
R
Zhou
XuHui District Mental Health Center of Shanghai, Shanghai, China.
Ling
L
Mao
Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Zhiguang
Z
Lin
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai Forensic Service Platform, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, PR China, Shanghai, China.
Weixiong
W
Cai
Division of Mood Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Yiru
Y
Fang
Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Bin
B
Xie
Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Min
M
Zhao
Division of Mood Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: drhongwu@126.com.
Wu
W
Hong
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology*; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood*; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000097:blood*
C038245:C3 protein, human; D003176:Complement C3; D020381:Interleukin-17; D053759:Interleukin-23; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
Aggressive behavior; Autoimmunity; Complement component 3; Inflammatory cytokines; Schizophrenia