Lymphocytes, autoantibodies and psychosis - Coincidence versus etiologicalfactor: An update

Several factors have been suggested in the etiopathology of schizophrenia, including autoimmune factors. Subgroup of schizophrenics have been found to have immunologic abnormalities. Evidence is presented of the role of lymph ocytes and cytokine production in psychiatric disorders. Hypersecretion of IL-2 and IL-6 in acute exacerbation or in relapse-prone patients, decreased ratio of CD4+/CD8+, detection of antinuclear. anticytoplasmatic. antiphosp holipid antibodies: and others in chronic schizophrenic patients and lately the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies in unmedicated psychotic patie nts are examples of the immunologic abnormalities findings. These results s uggest that schizophrenia may result from an immunologic disorder, which is mediated mainly (but probably not only) by lymphocyte dysfunction.