Decreased serum levels of interleukin-2 and interleukin-6 in Indian Bengalee schizophrenic patients

Abstract: Background and purpose: Autoimmune process is thought to be involved in the pathophysiology in some cases of schizophrenia. Alteration in interleukin (IL) regulation is regarded as additional proof of autoimmunological background in schizophrenia. Most of the research in interleukin activity in schizophrenia has been in Caucasian and some Mongoloid patients. We have studied the serum IL-2 and IL-6 level in psychotropic medication free and antipsychotic medicating schizophrenic patients who are Indian Bengalee by ethnicity. Method: Twenty psychotropic medication free and 30 antipsychotic medicating schizophrenic patients who fulfilled DSM-IV-TR criteria and 30 of the same age and sex matched controls were recruited. Serum level of IL-2 and IL-6 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Result: There was a significant decrease of IL-2 and IL-6 in both antipsychotic medicating and psychotropic medication free patients. Further the medicating patients showed lower level of IL-2 and IL-6 than the psychotropic medication free patients. Conclusion: This is the first study to describe a decrease serum level of IL-6 in schizophrenic patients. The study provides the evidence that some kind of immune dysregulation is involved in pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The study also provides the evidence for the immunosuppressive effect of antipsychotic drugs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]