The composition of peripheral immunocompetent cell subpopulations and cytokine content in the brain structures of...

The DISC1 (disrupted in sсhizophrenia 1) gene is associated with brain dysfunctions, which are involved in a variety of mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder. This is the first study to examine the immune parameters in Disc1-Q31L mice with a point mutation in the second exon of the DISC1 gene compared to mice of the C57BL/6NCrl strain (WT, wild type). A flow cytometry assay has shown that intact Disc1- Q31L mice differ from the WT strain by an increase in the percentage of CD3+ T cells, CD3+CD4+ Т helper cells and CD3+CD4+CD25+ T regulatory cells and a decrease in CD3+CD8+ T cytotoxic/suppressor cells in the peripheral blood. A multiplex analysis revealed differences in the content of cytokines in the brain structures of Disc1-Q31L mice compared to WT mice. The content of pro-inflammatory cytokines was increased in the frontal cortex (IL-6, IL- 17 and IFNγ) and striatum (IFNγ), and decreased in the hippocampus and hypothalamus. At the same time, the levels of IL-1β were decreased in all structures being examined. In addition, the content of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 was increased in the frontal cortex, while IL-10 amount was decreased in the hippocampus. Immune response to sheep red blood cells analyzed by the number of antibody-forming cells in the spleen was higher in Disc1-Q31L mice at the peak of the reaction than in WT mice. Thus, Disc1-Q31L mice are characterized by changes in the pattern of cytokines in the brain structures, an amplification of the peripheral T-cell link with an increase in the content of the subpopulations of CD3+CD4+ T helpers and CD3+CD4+CD25+ T regulatory cells, as well as elevated immune reactivity to antigen in the spleen.