Munn N A
Behavioral Health Clinic of St. Peter's Hospital, Helena, MT 59601, USA.
Med Hypotheses. 2000 Feb;54(2):198-202. doi: 10.1054/mehy.1999.0018.
Schizophrenia is a devastating illness of unknown etiology. It is characterized by increased brain ventricular volume, suggesting a progressive neurodevelopmental condition. There is evidence suggesting a correlation between in utero viral exposure and subsequent occurrence of schizophrenia. Many neurotransmitter systems have been implicated as being dysfunctional in schizophrenia. There are also data suggesting immune system dysfunction in schizophrenia, and a negative correlation between schizophrenia and rheumatoid arthritis. Microglia are phagocytic immune cells in the central nervous system (CNS) derived from peripheral blood monocytes. They are involved in brain development, neuroproliferative and neurodegenerative activities, several CNS illnesses, and CNS viral immunity. They may also be involved in neurotransmitter regulation. The current theory postulates microglial dysfunction initiated by early CNS viral exposure results in the abnormal neural development and neurotransmitter dysfunction seen in schizophrenia.
精神分裂症是一种病因不明的严重疾病。其特征是脑室体积增大，提示存在进行性神经发育状况。有证据表明，子宫内病毒暴露与精神分裂症的后续发生之间存在关联。许多神经递质系统被认为在精神分裂症中功能失调。也有数据表明精神分裂症存在免疫系统功能障碍，且精神分裂症与类风湿性关节炎呈负相关。小胶质细胞是中枢神经系统（CNS）中源自外周血单核细胞的吞噬性免疫细胞。它们参与大脑发育、神经增殖和神经退行性活动、几种中枢神经系统疾病以及中枢神经系统病毒免疫。它们也可能参与神经递质调节。当前理论假定，早期中枢神经系统病毒暴露引发的小胶质细胞功能障碍导致了精神分裂症中所见的异常神经发育和神经递质功能障碍。
