Increased soluble interleukin 2 receptor levels in schizophrenia

Immunological mechanisms have been implicated in schizophrenia, but laboratory results have been variable. We evaluated soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL2R alpha) levels in sera of Irish patients with schizophrenia. Twenty-seven patients, 12 females and 15 males, with schizophrenia or schizophreniform psychosis, were sampled, along with 32 controls. Diagnosis was made using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IIIR. All but one of the patient group were in the first fortnight of an acute hospital admission. Soluble IL2R alpha levels were measured by ELISA. Soluble IL2R alpha levels were significantly higher (two-tailed p = 0.0019) in patients (median = 1010.4 pg/ml, range = 748.7-5673.3 pg/ml) than in controls (median = 792.3 pg/ml, range = 399.6-1479.5 pg/ml). The elevated sIL2R alpha levels in an Irish population with schizophrenia are consistent with other reports and support the implication of immunological mechanisms in this disorder.