Failure to detect dopamine receptor IgG autoantibodies in sera of schizophrenic patients

Abstract

Autoantibodies against dopamine receptors in schizophrenic patients have been postulated. IgG was fractionated from sera of 15 schizophrenic patients (DSM III) in an acute episode. However, 3H-spiperone binding to dopamine receptors was not inhibited by this fraction.

Absence of dopamine receptor serum autoantibodies in schizophrenia patients with an acute disease episode

“…Antibodies against DRD2-5 were absent in all analyzed cohorts. Thus, in line with previous studies (von Kirchbach et al, 1987;Tanaka et al, 2003), we found no evidence supporting a major role of dopamine receptor serum antibodies during an acute exacerbation of schizophrenia. This also holds true for exacerbations of major depression and borderline personality disorder.…”

“…This study applied recombinant dopamine receptors in a radioligand assay. Von Kirchbach et al (1987) focused on acutely ill medicated schizophrenia patients (N = 15) and found no increased binding of purified patient IgG to a mixture of different dopamine receptors (isolated from calf striatum). Meanwhile, cell-based assays (CBAs), expressing specific protein targets on the surface of transfected cells, have been developed for the improved detection of autoantibodies directed against synaptic surface proteins.…”

The Case for Autoimmunity in the Etiology of Schizophrenia

“…Many studies reported in the literature have identified an increase in certain serum autoantibody titers in patients with schizophrenia, whereas others have not. Tables 1 17-35 and 2 18,32,[36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43] summarize these studies, which examined each antibody's role in patients with schizophrenia. Antibodies were categorized as systemic (not limited to nervous tissue) or organ specific (limited to nervous tissue).…”

“…In contrast, we identified only four studies in which no association was found between any antibody level and schizophrenia. 25,30,39,43…”

Platelet-Associated Antibodies Mediate Protective Autoimmune Response in Schizophrenia

“…However, evidence supporting this hypothesis is still highly controversial because of notable inconsistencies in the published data [8][9][10][11]. In previous reports [12,13], we presented evidence that peripheral blood platelets of schizophrenic patients carry autoantibodies, i.e.…”