<p>The Role of Cytokines in Predicting the Efficacy of Acute Stage Treatment in Patients with Schizophrenia</p>

Abstract

Purpose: Inflammatory response in schizophrenia (SCz) is related to its underlying pathological mechanism and might be significant in deciding a patient's prognosis. The current study aims to investigate the differences in the serum inflammation level between schizophrenic patients and healthy controls and identify inflammatory markers that can predict clinical therapeutic effects in early-stage SCz patients at the 6-month follow-up. Patients and Methods: In total, 71 subjects were recruited in this study, including 35 patients with Scz and 36 healthy controls. The 35 Scz patients, who were in the first-episode or acute relapse state at admission, had completed the 6-month follow-up. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) assessment results, demographic details, and blood samples were collected at the baseline and at followup. Data were analyzed using the Spearman correlation and multiple linear regression. Results: Serum interleukin (IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-8) levels were significantly elevated in SCz patients at baseline compared with healthy controls, with a reduced IL-8 level at the follow-up. Furthermore, a higher IL-6 level and lower IL-8 level was found to predict better improvement in negative symptoms. The higher IL-6 level also predicted lesser improvement in depressive symptoms. Finally, a higher interferon (IFN)-γ level predicted a lower therapeutic effect for excitatory symptoms. Conclusion: The serum levels of inflammatory markers were higher in patients with SCz than in healthy controls. These markers can be considered accurate predictors of therapeutic effects in patients with SCz.

Anti-Inflammatory Diets and Schizophrenia

“…These findings suggest that pro-inflammatory cytokines are significantly stimulated in schizophrenia subjects regardless of obvious inflammation and that anti-inflammatory strategies using diet and drugs may be utilized as a potential adjuvant therapy. In fact, some anti-psychotic drugs (e.g., clozapine, olanzapine, and risperidone) reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-8 and IL-12 in first episode and relapse state schizophrenia patients [ 36 37 ]. Although there has been inconsistency in alterations of cytokine levels and types of affected cytokines, several pro-inflammatory cytokines were relatively higher in schizophrenia subjects compared with controls, which was suppressed by the treatment of anti-psychotic drugs, resulting in alleviation of symptoms of schizophrenia.…”

Higher Dietary Inflammation in Patients with Schizophrenia: A Case-Control Study in Korea

“…Stress response secondary to inflammation sensitizes and primes the microglial cells, thereby increasing the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Patients with schizophrenia have higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines than do healthy controls [47,48]. In addition, positron emission tomography studies of receptors (PK11195 and DAA1106) have demonstrated that the activation of microglial receptors is associated with neuronal damage in patients with recent-onset schizophrenia [43,49].…”

A Review of the Role of Interleukin-2 in the Pathophysiology of Major Depressive Disorder in Hospitalized Patients

“…In their study, they justified this association by increasing the production of T cells following a patient suffering from depression. 6 However, Maes et al showed that serum levels of IL-2 and serum levels of IL-2 receptors increase in patients with major depression. Their study evaluated patients who were in the final phase of treatment, and their results also showed an increase in serum IL-6 levels.…”

“…5 On the other hand, researchers believe that chronic inflammation can be one of the causes of depression. 6 Depression is a mental disorder that affects 15 million people a year. Depression is a disorder characterized by mood swings and includes feelings of sadness ranging from mild frustration to severe despair.…”