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Abnormalities in serum concentrations of interleukin-2, interferon-alpha and interferon-gamma in schizophrenia not
W F Gattaz1, P Dalgalarrondo, H C Schröder
1Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany.
Abstract:
The hypothesis of an immunological defect in schizophrenia has been supported by reports on abnormal production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferons (IFNs) in schizophrenic patients. In the present study we determined the serum concentrations of IL-2, IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma in 10 first onset, neuroleptic-naive schizophrenics, in 6 pretreated patients who were drug free (1 week to 2 years) at the time of the investigation and in 15 matched healthy controls. No IFN-alpha was detected in schizophrenics' and in control sera. No differences were found in IL-2 and IFN-gamma levels between schizophrenics and controls. Thus the present study failed to support the hypothesis of an immunological abnormality in schizophrenia on the basis of the determination of IL-2 and IFNs serum levels.