Open AccessInfectious agents and immune responses in schizophrenia: A case control study
Author(s) -
M. I. A. Mahmud,
Berjees Rafi,
Umeed Ali Khan,
Hassan Mohamed El Hady
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international medical journal malaysia/iium medical journal malaysia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2735-2285
pISSN - 1823-4631
DOI - 10.31436/imjm.v15i1.1374
Subject(s) - medicine , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , cytomegalovirus , proinflammatory cytokine , seroprevalence , immunology , case control study , antibody , immune system , gastroenterology , etiology , significant difference , serology , virus , psychiatry , inflammation , viral disease , herpesviridae
Exact causal mechanism of schizophrenia is still unknown; however, genetic and environmental factors are implicated in disease aetiology. The aim of the study is to determine the association of infectious agents cytomegalovirus and T.gondii along with immune cytokines IL-2, IL-6 and IFN-γ with schizophrenia. Methods: Ninety subjects participated in the study, 45 were patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, and the other 45 were a healthy control group. Qualitative and quantitative enzyme immunoassays were used for detection of antibodies and quantitation of cytokines respectively in subjects’ sera. Results: Both patients and control groups had similar CMV seroprevalence of 93.3% (42/45). Prevalence of anti T. gondii IgG antibodies were 53.3% and 64.4% among schizophrenic patients and controls respectively. No statistically significant difference was observed between patients and controls (p > 0.05). A significant difference (p 0.05) was found between the median IQR serum Interleukin-6 levels of patients (4.3 pg/mL) and controls (3.1 pg/mL). There was a significant difference (p< 0.001) in median IQR serum IFN – γ levels between patients (0.8 pg/mL) and the control group (4.9 pg/mL). Conclusions: No significant differences between schizophrenic patients and healthy controls with regard to previous infections with cytomegalovirus or T.gondii were observed. While significantly higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IFN – γ among controls than patients might be an indication of weaker than normal immune responses in schizophrenic patients.