Effects of antipsychotic drugs on cytokine networks

It has been known since the 1950s that phenothiazines have immunomodulatory effects. This review summarizes recent evidence suggesting that antipsycho tic drugs, in particular chlorpromazine and the atypical compound clozapine , influence the production of cytokines. Cytokines, organized in networks o f related peptides with pleiotropic functions, are pivotal humoral mediator s of infection and inflammation, and they play an important role in hematop oiesis and autoimmunity. Therefore, the effects of antipsychotic drugs on c ytokine networks are important for the understanding of immune-mediated sid e effects of these drugs, e.g. agranulocytosis. In addition, modulation of cytokine production by antipsychotic agents suggests that these drugs might be useful For the treatment of diseases which primarily involve the immune system. Moreover, because cytokines are known to have numerous effects on the CNS. they may mediate effects of antipsychotic drugs on brain functions . Finally, the influence of antipsychotic drugs on cytokine networks is an important confounding factor in studies investigating disease-related immun opathology in psychiatric disorders. This review provides a synopsis of the data published on these topics and outlines future research perspectives. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.