Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0036341 (schizophrenia)
 60,220 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We examined serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) in 90 schizophrenic patients in remission and 90 normal controls using enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA). We found a significant difference in variation between the schizophrenic and the control groups (F = 10.9, P less than .002). The difference in distribution was also statistically significant by Kolmogorov-Smirnov (chi-square = 45.0, P less than .001). Eight patients had aberrantly high serum levels of interleukin-6. Since the higher levels of IL-6 are characteristically found in several autoimmune disorders, our finding suggests a link between schizophrenia and immune response, which could be either autoimmune or a process induced by reactivation of viruses.
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PMID:Serum interleukin-6 in schizophrenic patients. 186 59

Recently, several lines of evidence have suggested the possible of immunological dysfunction in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. We therefore investigated the ability to produce interferons and lymphokines in response to mitogenic or viral stimulation in a whole blood assay of 37 schizophrenic patients (DSM-III-R) and of 42 healthy blood donors. Phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) was used for the induction of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon gamma (INF gamma), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) and Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) for the induction of interferon alpha 2 (INF alpha 2). All lymphokines and, in addition, the sIL-2R in the sera were determined by ELISA technique. The psychopathological status of the patients was assessed by psychiatrists according to internationally accepted standards. The patient group showed a trend to lower levels of the interferons alpha 2 and gamma and a significant decrease of IL-2 production. The sIL-2R levels were significantly increased in the sera of schizophrenic patients. The latter increase was associated with a poor assessment of prognosis (Strauss and Carpenter). This association appears to be of interest. However, its significance is not understood, since longitudinal studies could not be performed.
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PMID:Production of interferons and lymphokines in leukocyte cultures of patients with schizophrenia. 754 76

There is some evidence that schizophrenia may be accompanied by alterations in cell-mediated immunity (CMI) and that antipsychotic agents may modulate CMI. The purpose of this study was to investigate the plasma levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R), sIL-2R, and transferrin-receptor (TfR) in schizophrenia and mania, and the effects of treatment with neuroleptics or mood stabilizers on these variables. The subjects were 14 schizophrenic patients, 10 manic patients and 21 healthy volunteers. The above immune variables were measured in baseline conditions and after treatment with neuroleptics in schizophrenic patients and valproate in manic patients. Plasma concentrations of IL-6, sIL-6R, sIL-2R and TfR were significantly higher in the combined group of psychotic patients than in healthy volunteers. Plasma IL-6 was significantly higher in schizophrenic patients, while plasma sIL-6R and sIL-2R were significantly higher in mania than in normal controls. In schizophrenic patients, plasma levels of IL-6, sIL-6R and TfR were significantly lower after treatment with neuroleptics than before treatment. No significant effects of valproate on the immune-inflammatory markers could be found in the manic patients. It is suggested that activation of CMI may occur in both schizophrenia and mania and that neuroleptics may have immunosuppressive effects through suppression of IL-6 or IL-6R-related mechanisms.
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PMID:Interleukin-2 and interleukin-6 in schizophrenia and mania: effects of neuroleptics and mood stabilizers. 766 81

Using an enzyme immunoassay (ELISA), we measured serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration in 128 schizophrenic patients (24 of whom were never medicated) and in 110 normal control subjects. Mean serum IL-6 concentration was significantly higher in the schizophrenic patients as compared with the control subjects (p = 0.009). Comparisons within the patient group revealed that serum IL-6 was significantly correlated with duration of illness (r = 0.32, p = 0.0004). After covariation for duration of illness, there was no relationship between IL-6 levels and the production of autoantibodies, clinical state, or medication status. Thus, elevated serum IL-6 levels in schizophrenia develop during the course of illness and may be related to treatment or to disease progression.
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PMID:Serum interleukin-6 concentration in schizophrenia: elevation associated with duration of illness. 791 Sep 74

The purpose of this study was to investigate immune-inflammatory markers in schizophrenia and the effects of chronic treatment with clozapine, an atypical antipsychotic agent, on these variables. Toward this end, we measured interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) and sIL-2R in the blood of 26 normal controls and 14 schizophrenic patients before and after treatment with clozapine. The sIL-2R and IL-6 levels were significantly higher in younger (< 35 years) schizophrenic subjects than in normal controls and older (> or = 35 years) schizophrenic subjects. The sIL-6R levels were significantly lower in schizophrenic subjects than in normal controls. Chronic treatment with clozapine significantly increased the blood concentration of sIL-2R; the increases in the latter were significantly related to the dose of clozapine but not to changes in severity of positive or negative symptoms. We conclude that: (a) schizophrenia in younger people is accompanied by increased IL-6 and sIL-2R secretion; and (b) subchronic treatment with clozapine increases sIL-2R levels. Increased plasma sIL-2R may be one mechanism by which neuroleptics exhibit their immunosuppressive effects.
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PMID:Immune-inflammatory markers in schizophrenia: comparison to normal controls and effects of clozapine. 806 74

This paper aims to explore the influence of the immune system on the pathobiochemistry of movement disorders (Tourette syndrome, obsessive compulsive disorders and attention-deficit disorder, with and without hyperactivity) and schizophrenia. In children, a temporal relationship has been observed between contraction of a group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection and subsequent presentation with one of the movement disorders. Pathology investigations reveal that elevated antineuronal antibodies are associated with movement disorders. Similarly, elevations in interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-6 have been reported in schizophrenia. It is now known that the immune system can be activated by conditions other than a viral or bacterial infection, such as: neurological insult, neurotoxicity--endogenous and environmental, neurotransmitter and cholesterol dysregulation. These latter avenues of immune system activation will be explored with respect to schizophrenia.
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PMID:Immunological influences in attention-deficit disorder and schizophrenia; is there a link between these two conditions? 877 Oct 53

Recently, our laboratory reported that the activity of dipeptidyl-peptidase IV (DPP IV) was significantly lower in the peripheral blood of major depressed patients than in normal controls. The present study examines plasma DPP IV activity in 43 major depressed and 13 schizophrenic subjects versus 21 normal controls and the effects of antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs on plasma DPP IV activity. DPP IV activity was significantly lower in major depressed subjects than in normal controls and schizophrenic subjects. There was a trend towards higher DPP IV activity in schizophrenic patients than in normal controls. There were no significant effects of antidepressants or neuroleptics on plasma DPP IV activity in depressed and schizophrenic patients, respectively. There were no significant relationships between plasma DPP IV activity and plasma cortisol or immune-inflammatory markers, such as serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) or soluble IL-2 receptor. A significant and positive correlation was found between plasma DPP IV and prolyl endopeptidase (PEP) enzyme activity in the study group as a whole and in schizophrenic subjects. The results support the hypothesis that lower and higher plasma DPP IV activities are trait markers of major depression and schizophrenia, respectively. It is concluded that alterations in the enzyme activity of peptidases, such as DPP IV and PEP, play a role in the pathophysiology of major depression and schizophrenia.
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PMID:Alterations in plasma dipeptidyl peptidase IV enzyme activity in depression and schizophrenia: effects of antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs. 891 23

Recently, there have been some reports that schizophrenia is accompanied by an immune-inflammatory response, characterized by increased secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2) and lower plasma levels of CC16 (Clara cell protein), an endogenous anti-cytokine. It was shown that clozapine, an atypical antipsychotic drug, may increase the plasma levels of sIL-2R and pro-inflammatory cytokines. This study was carried out in order to examine serum IL-6, IL-6R, CC16, IL-1R antagonist (IL-1RA), transferrin receptor (TfR) and sCD8 antigen, both before and after treatment with clozapine in schizophrenic subjects versus normal controls. Schizophrenic patients showed significantly higher plasma IL-6R and IL-1RA and lower plasma CC16 than normal controls. Treatment with clozapine significantly increased plasma sCD8, IL-6, CC16 and IL-1RA concentrations. The clozapine-induced increments in plasma IL-6 and CC16 appeared during the first 2 weeks of treatment, whereas the increases in plasma sCD8 and IL-1RA appeared after 5 weeks. Clozapine appears to have complex in vivo immunomodulatory effects.
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PMID:In vivo immunomodulatory effects of clozapine in schizophrenia. 932 54

The concentration of cytokines such as Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been reported to be elevated in depressed and schizophrenic patients and, in healthy persons, upon stress. Interleukin-6 plasma levels were determined in depressed (n = 12) and schizophrenic (n = 32) patients during the acute state of illness and after remission at approximately 8 weeks after admission and were compared with healthy controls (n = 12). Patients were diagnosed according to DSM-III-R by the Structured Clinical Interview (SCID). Severity of illness was assessed for depression by the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and for schizophrenia by the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Interleukin-6 plasma concentrations were elevated during the acute state either of depression or of schizophrenia if compared to controls. After remission, IL-6 concentrations in depressed and in schizophrenic patients had decreased and did not differ significantly from controls. We hypothesize that the elevated IL-6 levels during the acute state of depression or schizophrenia may reflect an unspecific stress response.
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PMID:Interleukin-6-(IL-6) plasma levels in depression and schizophrenia: comparison between the acute state and after remission. 933 5

The autoimmune basis for schizophrenia has been investigated for the last 60 years. Although numerous immune abnormalities have been reported, the current literature is viewed with much skepticism because most of the studies have failed to control for extraneous factors that may have influenced the findings. Principally, antipsychotic medication, duration of illness, and current clinical state (acutely psychotic or remitted) may considerably alter immune response, as may other factors such as nutritional status, substance abuse, and concurrent medical illness. We review recent studies that employed current diagnostic criteria and modern immunologic techniques. (These studies were located by use of a Medline search on the terms schizophrenia and psychosis, cross-referenced with immune abnormalities, lymphokines, antibodies, lymphocytes, HLA, and medication, and by perusing the reference lists in the articles found through this search.) Immune abnormalities that have been replicated in studies of schizophrenic patients include increased prevalence of antinuclear antibodies, decreased production of interleukin-2, and increased serum concentrations of interleukin-2 receptor and interleukin-6. Given the current importance of autoimmunity as an etiologic mechanism in several branches of medicine, further studies are needed, especially those having a longitudinal design and including drug-naive patients.
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PMID:Immune abnormalities in schizophrenia: evidence for the autoimmune hypothesis. 938 85


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