Korean J Biol Psychiatry.  2005 Nov;12(2):143-150.

Changes of Interleukin-12 and Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1 before and after Antipsychotic Treatments in Schizophrenic Patients

• Kim SJ
• Lee BH
• Kim YK

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Several reports have suggested that cytokine alterations could be related to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. In this study, we measured plasma level of interleukin-12(IL-12), a pro-inflammatory T helper 1(Th1) cytokine and transforming growth factor-beta1(TGF-beta1), an anti-inflammatory Th3 cytokine before and after antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenic patients.
METHODS
The plasma concentrations of IL-12 and TGF-beta1 were measured by using quantitative ELISA in 23 schizophrenic patients and 31 normal controls at admission and 8 weeks later. The psychopathology was measured by Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale(BPRS).
RESULTS
IL-12 and TGF-beta1 levels were significantly higher in schizophrenic patients than in controls before treatment. At the 8 week of treatment, the TGF-beta1 levels returned to control values, while IL-12 levels were not significantly changed. There were no significant correlations between the changes of BPRS scores and the changes of IL-12 or TGF-beta1 levels in schizophrenic patients.
CONCLUSION
Cytokine abnormalities in schizophrenia might be involved in the pathophysiology of the illness. It is possible that TGF-beta1 plays an important role in the schizophrenia.

Keyword

Cytokine; Interleukin; TGF; Schizophrenia

MeSH Terms

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Humans
Interleukin-12*
Interleukins
Plasma
Psychopathology
Schizophrenia
Transforming Growth Factor beta*
Transforming Growth Factor beta1
Transforming Growth Factors*
Interleukin-12
Interleukins
Transforming Growth Factor beta
Transforming Growth Factor beta1
Transforming Growth Factors