Implications of immunity and inflammation in schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders

Abstract

Introduction

Intricate interactions between the immune system and the brain might have important etiological and therapeutic implications for neuropsychiatric brain disorders. A probable association between schizophrenia and the immune system was postulated over a century ago, and is supported by epidemiological and genetic studies pointing to links with infection and inflammation.

Objective

To describe some important areas of research regarding immune response in schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders and discuss potential mechanisms and therapeutic implications of these findings.

Aims

Associations between immune response, inflammation and schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders are reviewed.

Methods

A literature review of the theme is surveyed. Several articles were search on MEDLINE with the keywords: schizophrenia, psychosis, inflammation, immunity, infection.

Results

Schizophrenia is a multifactorial disease. It is associated with multiple genetic loci that confer risk, in addition to developmental and postnatal risk factors. Antipsychotic-naive first-episode psychosis and acute psychotic relapse seems to be associated with increased serum concentrations of interleukin 6 and other proinflammatory cytokines, which are normalized after remission of symptoms with antipsychotic treatment.

Conclusions

Inflammation and immune dysfunction might contribute to cognitive, negative, and positive symptoms in schizophrenia. Identification of specific inflammatory pathways for neuropsychiatric symptoms would provide novel targets for therapeutic intervention.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.