1Research Centre, Riyadh Military Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Hum Exp Toxicol. 2014 Feb;33(2):115-22. doi: 10.1177/0960327113493305. Epub 2013 Jul 8.
Although several theories have been proposed including developmental/neurodegenerative processes, neurotransmitter abnormalities, viral infection, and immune dysfunction, the exact causative factor of schizophrenia is unclear. A relationship between inflammation and schizophrenia has been supported by abnormal cytokine production and altered antioxidant status. This study was aimed to examine the alterations in serum oxidative-antioxidative status and cytokine levels of schizophrenic patients.
A total of 91 schizophrenic patients from Saudi Arabia and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the present study. Fresh blood samples were collected to measure the levels of cytokines and markers of oxidative stress by spectrophotometric assays simultaneously.
We observed that there was a significant increase in the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 and a decrease in the levels of interferon-γ. Lipid peroxides are elevated in serum, while total-sulfhydryl levels were decreased. Also, the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were decreased, while the activities of catalase, glutathione reductase, and myeloperoxidase were found to be elevated in serum.
We conclude that inflammation resulting from dysregulation of cytokines and altered antioxidant systems may play a critical role in the etiology of schizophrenia.
尽管有几种理论被提出，包括发育/神经退行性过程、神经递质异常、病毒感染和免疫功能障碍，但精神分裂症的确切致病因素仍不清楚。炎症与精神分裂症之间的关系得到了异常细胞因子产生和抗氧化状态改变的支持。本研究旨在研究精神分裂症患者血清氧化应激状态和细胞因子水平的变化。
本研究纳入了来自沙特阿拉伯的 91 名精神分裂症患者和 50 名年龄和性别匹配的健康对照者。采集新鲜血样，通过分光光度法同时测定细胞因子和氧化应激标志物的水平。
我们观察到肿瘤坏死因子-α、白细胞介素（IL）-1β和 IL-6 水平显著升高，干扰素-γ水平降低。血清脂质过氧化物升高，而总巯基水平降低。此外，血清中超氧化物歧化酶和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶的活性降低，而过氧化氢酶、谷胱甘肽还原酶和髓过氧化物酶的活性升高。
我们得出结论，细胞因子失调和抗氧化系统改变引起的炎症可能在精神分裂症的发病机制中起关键作用。
