Membrane polyunsaturated fatty acids and CSF cytokines in patients with schizophrenia

Findings to date provide evidence that altered membrane structure and function are present in patients with either first-episode or chronic schizophrenia, suggesting defects in phospholipid metabolism and cell signaling in schizophrenia. The purpose of this investigation is to test whether decreased membrane polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were associated with an increased secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. Thus, we measured interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with chronic schizophrenia as well as PUFAs of red blood cell (RBC) membranes from the same individuals. A significant and inverse correlation was found between CSF IL-6 (not IL-10) and RBC membrane PUFAs levels in both haloperidol-treated and medication-free patients with schizophrenia. Specifically, such an association was found in the n-6 (18:2, 20:4, and 22:4) and, to a lesser extent, the n-3 fatty acids. Taken together, the present findings suggest that decreased membrane PUFAs may be related to an immune disturbance in schizophrenia, possibly resulting from an increased phospholipase A2 activity mediated through the proinflammatory cytokines.