Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 27, 2026
08:26
Measuring the 50% Haemolytic Complement CH50 Activity of Serum
Published on: March 29, 2010
38.9K
Decreased serum complement component 4 levels in patients with schizophrenia.
Psychiatric Genetics
|April 2, 2019
Summary
Serum complement component 4 (C4) levels are lower in individuals with schizophrenia compared to healthy controls. This finding holds true for both males and females, suggesting C4 as a potential biomarker for schizophrenia.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Biochemistry
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Immune system dysregulation is implicated in mental health disorders.
- Complement component 4 (C4) has been suggested as a potential factor in schizophrenia.
- Understanding C4's role could offer new diagnostic and therapeutic avenues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between serum C4 levels and schizophrenia.
- To compare C4 levels in schizophrenia patients versus healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 40 adult schizophrenia patients and 40 matched healthy controls.
- Serum C4 levels were quantified using a C4 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit.
Main Results:
- Serum C4 levels were significantly lower in patients with schizophrenia compared to healthy controls.
- This reduction in C4 levels was observed in both male and female participants.
Conclusions:
- Lower serum C4 levels may serve as a potential biomarker for schizophrenia.
- These findings provide a foundation for developing diagnostic tools and clinical treatments for schizophrenia.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Schizophrenia
856
Schizophrenia, a term introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1911, describes a severe psychological disorder marked by profound disruptions in attention, thought processes, language, emotion, and interpersonal relationships. The core feature of schizophrenia is psychosis — a state characterized by a fundamental detachment from reality. This disconnection manifests through distorted logic, impaired perception, and atypical behavior, severely affecting the lives of those...
856
01:27Decreasing Function
250
A decreasing function describes a relationship where the output consistently declines as the input increases. This means that for any two input values, if one is greater than the other, the corresponding output is smaller. Mathematically, a function f is decreasing on an interval I if for every x1 < x2 in I, f (x1) > f (x2). This type of behavior is visually identified on a graph that slopes downward from left to right.The nature of a function can be analyzed by calculating...
250
01:29Biological Causes of Schizophrenia
551
Schizophrenia, a severe psychiatric disorder, arises from a complex interplay of biological factors, including genetic predisposition, structural brain abnormalities, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and developmental irregularities. These factors collectively contribute to the onset and progression of the disorder, which typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin...
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin...
551
01:27Complement System
9.9K
The complement system is a group of approximately 20 plasma proteins that strengthen the body's defenses against infections through opsonization, inflammation, and cell lysis. Opsonization involves coating pathogens with complement proteins, making them more recognizable and facilitating phagocyte engulfment. Certain complement proteins induce inflammation that attracts immune cells to the site of infection. Cell lysis involves the destruction of pathogens through the formation of a...
9.9K
01:29Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
516
Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
516
01:29Decreased Body Temperature
1.0K
A decreased body temperature can occur in patients with hypothermia and frostbite. Heat loss with extended cold exposure overpowers the body's ability to create heat, resulting in hypothermia. Core temperature readings help classify hypothermia. Mild hypothermia is temperatures between 32 °C (89.6 °F) and 35°C (95 °F) and is caused by impaired thermoregulation. Moderate hypothermia is temperatures between 28 C (82.4 °F) and 32 °C (89.6 °F) caused by...
1.0K