[Analysis of the changes of serum high mobility group protein B1 and cytokines in first-episode schizophrenia patients].

OBJECTIVE

To measure serum levels of high mobility group protein B-1 (HMGB1), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α ( TNF-α) before and after antipsychotic treatment, and further study the role of HMGB1 in schizophrenics.

METHODS

Thirty first-episode schizophrenics who were never treated with neuroleptics from First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University and thirty healthy subjects were enrolled. Serum levels of cytokines such as HMGB1, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were examined with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) before and after antipsychotic treatment.

RESULTS

The serum levels of HMGB1, IL-10, IL-6 and TNF-α in schizophrenics [(80 zophμ8/L, (51 zo, 441 zo, 591 zopng/L] were significantly higher than those in the healthy subjects [(54 gni) μ4/L, (25 gni, 17 gn, 41 gni) ng/L] (P < 0.05). After treating the schizophrenics with the neuroleptic risperidone for 6 months, the serum levels of HMGB1, IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 were decreased. The serum levels of HMGB1 were positively correlated to IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and Negative Symptoms (r = 0.377, r = 0.426, r = 0.454, r = 0.558, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Schizophrenics show activation of the cytokine system and immune disturbance. HMGB1 may play a proinflammatory role in schizophrenia and the decrease of HMGB1 after neuroleptic risperidone treatment may be a marker of mental symptoms remission.