Enzyme Activity of G-6-PD, γ-GT and Lysozyme in White Cells of Schizophrenics

Abstract

In a controlled study the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) in red and white blood cells, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT) and lysozyme in serum and white blood cells was studied in 22 drug-free schizophrenic patients and 17 healthy volunteers. The activities of the above enzymes were found to be reduced in the white cells of schizophrenics compared with controls. The differences in activity of G-6-PD in red cells and of γ-GT and lysozyme in serum between the two groups were not revealed as significant. The observed low enzyme activities might provide a further basis for interpreting the reported functional deficiency in neutrophils of schizophrenics. Possible mechanisms in relation to biological abnormalities in schizophrenia are discussed.

Effect of repeated oral administration of <i>Bifidobacterium longum</i> BB536 on apomorphine-induced rearing behavior in mice

“…Immune abnormalities may also play a pathological role in some forms of schizophrenia [ 4 ]. In paranoid schizophrenics, but not catatonic schizophrenics, white blood cell activity is suppressed compared with that found in healthy volunteers [ 5 ]. Mittleman et al found a relative skewing of cerebrospinal fluid profiles toward type 2 cytokines and found that humoral immunity is involved in childhood-onset schizophrenia [ 6 ].…”