[Changes of humoral and cellular immunity in schizophrenia]

Abstract

The paper is a review of the literature on cellular and humoral immunity in schizophrenic patients. The reports have revealed that there are manifestations of autoimmunological process in a subgroup of schizophrenics (among others: increased serum level of specific and non-specific autoantibodies, decreased lymphocyte interleukin-2 production, increased soluble IL-2 receptor concentration, increased serum IL-6 level, presence of lymphocyte abnormalities and association with HLA antigens. It is suggested that virus infection may provoke the appearance of autoimmunological reaction, while genetic factors might increase some predisposition to this reaction. The reports have also revealed that autoimmunity may play a role in pathogenesis of schizophrenia in a subgroup of schizophrenic patients who have immunological abnormalities.