RSS
Home
Schizophrenia linked to the immune system
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Over the past years, scientists have been hunting for proof that the immune system plays a role in schizophrenia. It has been suspected since studies showed a correlation between immune dysregulation and the development of schizophrenia. Finally, scientists have some evidence to support the theory.
Schizophrenia is a particularly difficult disorder to diagnose as it can strike suddenly and with little warning. As with any disease, the key to catching it early is to know what to look for. Work earlier this year pinpointed some genetic factors that may be tied to schizophrenia, but no definitive schizophrenic marker was found. Part of the difficulty is a serious lack of understanding that surrounds the disease. Genetics is only one facet. Environment has been implicated as well. And now, so has the immune system.
The study, published in Nature, was truly epic in its scale. Lead by a team from UCLA with collaborators from over 50 institutions worldwide, researchers were investigating single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP). SNPs were also studied in the previous experiment, but this was a much grander search. They looked at over 314,000 SNPs, hunting for “genetic variations that are commonly present in the general population but more often present in those suffering from the disorder.” [EurekAlert]
The finding that pointed to the immune system was a variation in Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes. MHC is responsible for many aspects of the immune system, including the recruitment of T-cells. In autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and Type 1 diabetes, MHCs do not work properly and mark the body’s own tissue as foreign objects to be destroyed. So it is easy to see why a variation in MHC in schizophrenics is strong evidence that autoimmunity, or at least some sort of immune response, is involved with the disease.
However, the study is not conclusive. The MHC mutations were not specific to only those with schizophrenia. Roel Ophoff, co-lead author of the study, of UCLA stated, "In other words, these are not rare mutations present in only a few individuals, but these genetic variants are abundantly present in the population. Anybody could carry this variant, but that doesn't mean they will necessarily develop the disease. Yet, when you look at the population at large, these variants are more often present in patients than in healthy control subjects." [EurekAlert]
One potential problem is the pervasiveness of schizophrenia. It affects over 1% of the American population (3,500,000 people). With such a high incidence of the disease, it is not surprising to see the MHC mutations in so many samples.
Regardless, the study is a move in the right direction. "This is another step forward in understanding the biological basis of this disorder, one that robs people of their lives," said Ophoff, who holds a joint appointment at the University of Utrecht, The Netherlands. "It also shows the importance of worldwide collaborations for the study of schizophrenia genetics, because it allows us to do very large numbers of scans." [EurekAlert]
While schizophrenia has not been categorized solely as an “autoimmune” disorder, knowing that the immune system is integral to the disease may help with diagnosis and treatment. And as our understanding of the immune system grows, it is possible that even more syndromes will be categorized as immune-related, just as narcolepsy and now schizophrenia have been.
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
.jpg)
(Photo Credit: NOAA) Rocket science isn't just for the stars anymore. Researchers are using technology intended for a mechanical leviathan on …
Cheeseburgers, fries, and other modern-day fatty foods often receive the blunt of the blame for atherosclerosis, a heart disease in which cholesterol …
- 10. China's urbanization escalating strain on global grain supply
- 9. Life may have originated billions of years earlier
- 8. Against the odds ancient octopus fossils discovered
- 7.Scientist suggests that plant is self-aware
- 6. Girl with two hearts makes complete recovery
- 5. Evidence shows some large dinosaurs survived mass extinction
- 4. Potential cure found for honey bee colony collapse
- 3. New discovery may end transplant rejection
- 2.Successful treatment of peanut allergy
- 1. First clinical use of embryonic stem cells approved
