Document Type : Original Article
Authors
- Hedieh Matloubi 1
- Mohammad Vodjgani 1
- Abbass Ali Nasehi 2
- Mohammad Hossein Niknam 1
- Anoushirvan Kazemnejad 3
- Eisa Salehi 1
- Tahereh Aboufazeli 1
- Zahra Gheflati 1
1 Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran
2 Iran-Helal Institute of Applied Science and Technology
3 Department of Statistics, Tarbiat Modarress University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Background: Apart from genetic and environmental factors, activation of autoreactive mechanisms has been proposed to play a role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. In re-cent years, considerable work has been carried out to understand the role and contribution of the immune system in this disease.
Objective: To investigate the T cell response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and determine the serum levels of anti-nuclear antibody (ANA), anti-cytoplasmic antibody (ACA), and circulating immune complexes (CIC) in schizophrenic patients.
Methods: A total of 30 drug-free schizophrenic patients and 42 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. T cell proliferation in response to PHA was measured using Methyl Thiazol Tetrazolium test. ANA and ACA were measured by indi-rect immunofluorescence. CIC concentration was determined using poly ethylene glycol precipitation assay.
Results: Mean PHA response was 1.96 ± 0.83 in patients and 3.72±1.39 in healthy controls (p < 0.001). ANA and CIC concentrations were not signifi-cantly different between two groups. In addition, ACA was detected only in patients.
Conclusion: Increased production of ACA together with lower T cell response to mito-gens in our patients provides evidence for the involvement of autoimmune mechanisms in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.
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