title: Functional Implications of the IL-23/IL-17 Immune Axis in Schizophrenia.
abstract: The aetiology of schizophrenia seems to stem from complex interactions amongst environmental, genetic, metabolic, immunologic and oxidative components. Chronic low-grade inflammation has been persistently linked to schizophrenia, and this has primarily been based on the findings derived from Th1/Th2 cytokine balance. While the IL-23/IL-17 axis plays crucial role in the pathogenesis of several immune-mediated disorders, it has remained relatively unexplored in neuropsychiatric disorders. Altered levels of cytokines related to IL-23/IL-17 axis have been observed in schizophrenia patients in a few studies. In addition, other indirect factors known to confer schizophrenia risk like complement activation and altered gut microbiota are shown to modulate the IL-23/IL-17 axis. These preliminary observations provide crucial clues about the functional implications of IL-23/IL-17 axis in schizophrenia. In this review, an attempt has been made to highlight the biology of IL-23/IL-17 axis and its relevance to schizophrenia risk and pathogenesis. Given the pathogenic potential of the IL-23/IL-17 axis, therapeutic targeting of this axis may be a promising approach to benefit patients suffering from this devastating disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Genetics, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Hosur Road, Bangalore, 560029, India. monozeet@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Monojit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Debnath
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.|Department of Psychiatry, the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, and Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C508717:IL17A protein, human; D020381:Interleukin-17; D053759:Interleukin-23
keywords: Complement; Cytokines; Gut microbiota; IL-23/IL-17 axis; Immune; Inflammation; Schizophrenia; Th17 cells