An Immunological Basis of Schizophrenia and Affective Disorders?

Fontana, Alessandro; Storck, U.; Angst, J.; Dubs, R; Abegg, Ann L.; Grob, Peter J.

doi:10.1159/000117771

Cited by 17 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…The low levels of IgG and IgG1 observed here can mark the stable phase of the disease and/or related to the duration of the disease. For example, in SZ during acute crisis and also depending upon the duration of the disease, an increase in the mean serum level of total IgG was observed [ 1 , 3 , 6 , 10 , 11 , 27 , 29 , 32 ]. In the present study, as the low levels of IgG and IgG1 persisted in the BD group when the duration of the disease is taken into consideration, One may hypothesize that at stable phase, the inflammatory processes might be less vigorous than in acute phase of established infection, say T. gondii or other intercurrent infections from environmental sources may contribute to such inflammatory flare up in BD and SZ.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Yet another report described a decreased IgD levels in BD [ 35 ]. Studies focusing on SZ revealed an elevation of IgA, IgM or IgG in the patients’ sera or CSF during acute phases of the disease ([ 1 , 3 , 6 , 10 , 11 , 16 , 27 , 29 , 32 ]). Interestingly, in SZ, IgG raises gradually to reach a peak at about 12 to 17 years after the onset typically mirroring persistence of an underlying infection [ 10 , 33 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Immunoglobulin sub-class distribution in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia: potential relationship with latent Toxoplasma Gondii infection

et al. 2018

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BackgroundImmune dysfunction could play a significant role in the pathogenesis of bipolar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia (SZ), conditions with an underlying pro-inflammatory state. Studies on humoral immune responses (which reflects antibody mediated fight against pathogens) in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are sparse and often providing contradictory results. The aim of this study was to assess humoral immunity in a group of stable bipolar disorder and schizophrenia patients compared to controls by determining total Immunoglobulins and IgG subclasses and to assess their association with latent Toxoplasma gondii and/or CMV infection.Methods334 subjects (124 BD, 75 SZ and 135 Healthy Controls [HC]) were included and tested for humoral immunity by determining the total immunoglobulins (IgG,A and M) and IgG subclasses (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4) and their relationship with latent Toxoplasma gondii infection, an established risk factor for BD and SZ.ResultsAlthough lower levels of IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgG4 and IgA were found among BD as compared to HC and/or SZ, after adjustment for confounding variables, only low levels of IgG and IgG1 in BD remai- ned significant. Strikingly highest levels of antibodies to T. gondii (but not CMV) infection in BD and SZ were associated with lowest levels of IgG3 and IgG4 levels as compared to controls.ConclusionsSchizophrenia and bipolar disorder patients with latent T. gondii specific infection may be more vulnerable to changes in immuno-inflammatory processes than controls with similar latent infectious state. Simultaneous sequential immunological monitoring both in steady state and active disease phases in the same BD and SZ patients are warranted to understand the role of Toxoplasma gondii latency in these disorders.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immunoglobulin sub-class distribution in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia: potential relationship with latent Toxoplasma Gondii infection

et al. 2018

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“…One research group has reported that concentrations of circulating immune complexes are elevated in the blood of many patients with schizophrenia compared to chronic alcoholics; 82 however, another group found no increased incidence of circulating immune complexes. 12…”

Section: Deposition Of Antigen-antibody Complexes In the Affected Organmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several aetiological theories have been proposed for schizophrenia, including developmental 4 or neurodegenerative processes 5 , neurotransmitter abnormalities 6 , 7 , 8 , viral infection 9 , 10 and immune dysfunction or autoimmune mechanisms 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 . In addition, there is substantial evidence for a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia 23 , 24 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immune dysregulation and self‐reactivity in schizophrenia: Do some cases of schizophrenia have an autoimmune basis?

et al. 2005

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Summary Schizophrenia affects 1% of the world's population, but its cause remains obscure. Numerous theories have been proposed regarding the cause of schizophrenia, ranging from developmental or neurodegenerative processes or neurotransmitter abnormalities to infectious or autoimmune processes. In this review, findings suggestive of immune dysregulation and reactivity to self in patients with schizophrenia are examined with reference to criteria for defining whether or not a human disease is autoimmune in origin. Associations with other autoimmune diseases and particular MHC haplotypes, increased serum levels of autoantibodies, and in vivo and in vitro replication of some of the functional and ultrastructural abnormalities of schizophrenia by transfer of autoantibodies from the sera of patients with schizophrenia suggest that, in some patients at least, autoimmune mechanisms could play a role in the development of disease. Recent findings regarding specific autoimmune responses directed against neurotransmitter receptors in the brain in patients with schizophrenia will also be reviewed.

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“…AKR and BALB/c mice have Tby-2 protein on their membranes, not Thy-l (Siadak and Nowinski, 1981). Differences with respect to Thy-2 occur even in closely related congenic stocks such as AKR and AKR-M. Could this account for the failure of some investigators such as Watanabe et al (1982) and Fontana et al (1980) to replicate results of the Russians?…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%