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Nguyen KD, Amerio A, Aguglia A, Magnani L, Parise A, Conio B, Serafini G, Amore M, Costanza A. Microglia and Other Cellular Mediators of Immunological Dysfunction in Schizophrenia: A Narrative Synthesis of Clinical Findings. Cells 2023; 12:2099. [PMID: 37626909 PMCID: PMC10453550 DOI: 10.3390/cells12162099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric condition that may involve immune system dysregulation. Since most putative disease mechanisms in schizophrenia have been derived from genetic association studies and fluid-based molecular analyses, this review aims to summarize the emerging evidence on clinical correlates to immune system dysfunction in this psychiatric disorder. We conclude this review by attempting to develop a unifying hypothesis regarding the relative contributions of microglia and various immune cell populations to the development of schizophrenia. This may provide important translational insights that can become useful for addressing the multifaceted clinical presentation of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khoa D. Nguyen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA;
- Tranquis Therapeutics, Palo Alto, CA 94065, USA
| | - Andrea Amerio
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy; (A.A.); (A.A.); (B.C.); (G.S.); (M.A.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea Aguglia
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy; (A.A.); (A.A.); (B.C.); (G.S.); (M.A.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Luca Magnani
- Department of Psychiatry, San Maurizio Hospital of Bolzano, 39100 Bolzano, Italy;
| | - Alberto Parise
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, University Hospital of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy;
| | - Benedetta Conio
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy; (A.A.); (A.A.); (B.C.); (G.S.); (M.A.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Gianluca Serafini
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy; (A.A.); (A.A.); (B.C.); (G.S.); (M.A.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Mario Amore
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy; (A.A.); (A.A.); (B.C.); (G.S.); (M.A.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Alessandra Costanza
- Department of Psychiatry, Adult Psychiatry Service, University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG), 1207 Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, University of Italian Switzerland (USI), 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva (UNIGE), 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
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Kowalski K, Misiak B. Schizophrenia and the COVID-19 pandemic: A narrative review from the biomedical perspective. REVISTA DE PSIQUIATRIA Y SALUD MENTAL 2023:S1888-9891(23)00015-0. [PMID: 37544807 DOI: 10.1016/j.rpsm.2023.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
The outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020 caused a rapid worsening of global mental health. Patients with severe mental disorders, including schizophrenia, are at higher risk of being infected. The neuroinvasive potential of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been confirmed. The aim of this article was to present a narrative and comprehensive review of multidimensional associations between schizophrenia and COVID-19 with special emphasis on common biological pathways. Online searches were performed in the PubMed database and covered the publication period until September 17, 2022. Search terms included "psychosis", "schizophrenia", "inflammation" and "COVID-19". Viewed as a neuroinflammatory state, schizophrenia shares several neurobiological mechanisms with the COVID-19. Environmental stress, common comorbidities of schizophrenia and adverse effects of antipsychotic treatment are associated with the higher severity and mortality of the COVID-19. Additionally, more frequent relapses of psychosis have been observed, and might be related to lower treatment adherence. In the context of clinical manifestation, higher level of negative symptoms has been identified among patients with schizophrenia during the pandemic. Improvements in mental health care policy and treatment adjustment are necessary to protect people with schizophrenia who are the population that is particularly vulnerable to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Future research will show if prenatal infection with the SARS-CoV-2 increases a risk of psychosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Kowalski
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Pasteura 10 Street, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Błażej Misiak
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Pasteura 10 Street, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland
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Safari H, Mashayekhan S. Inflammation and Mental Health Disorders: Immunomodulation as a Potential Therapy for Psychiatric Conditions. Curr Pharm Des 2023; 29:2841-2852. [PMID: 37946352 DOI: 10.2174/0113816128251883231031054700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Mood disorders are the leading cause of disability worldwide and their incidence has significantly increased after the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the continuous surge in the number of people diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, the treatment methods for these conditions remain limited. A significant number of people either do not respond to therapy or discontinue the drugs due to their severe side effects. Therefore, alternative therapeutic interventions are needed. Previous studies have shown a correlation between immunological alterations and the occurrence of mental health disorders, yet immunomodulatory therapies have been barely investigated for combating psychiatric conditions. In this article, we have reviewed the immunological alterations that occur during the onset of mental health disorders, including microglial activation, an increased number of circulating innate immune cells, reduced activity of natural killer cells, altered T cell morphology and functionality, and an increased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This article also examines key studies that demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of anti-inflammatory medications in mental health disorders. These studies suggest that immunomodulation can potentially be used as a complementary therapy for controlling psychiatric conditions after careful screening of candidate drugs and consideration of their efficacy and side effects in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanieh Safari
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shohreh Mashayekhan
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
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4
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Gut microbiota alterations in stable outpatients with schizophrenia: findings from a case-control study. Acta Neuropsychiatr 2022; 35:147-155. [PMID: 36503629 DOI: 10.1017/neu.2022.38] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The pathogenesis of schizophrenia is multidimensional and intensively studied. The gut-brain axis disturbances might play a significant role in the development of schizophrenia. METHODS We compared the gut microbiota of 53 individuals with schizophrenia and 58 healthy controls, using the 16S rRNA sequencing method. Individuals with schizophrenia were assessed using the following scales: the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia, the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale and the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status. RESULTS No significant between-group differences in α-diversity measures were observed. Increased abundance of Lactobacillales (order level), Bacilli (class level) and Actinobacteriota (phylum level) were found in individuals with schizophrenia regardless of potential confounding factors, and using two independent analytical approaches (the distance-based redundancy analysis and the generalised linear model analysis). Additionally, significant correlations between various bacterial taxa (the Bacteroidia class, the Actinobacteriota phylum, the Bacteroidota phylum, the Coriobacteriales order and the Coriobacteria class) and clinical manifestation (the severity of negative symptoms, performance of language abilities, social and occupational functioning) were observed. CONCLUSIONS The present study indicates that gut microbiota alterations are present in European patients with schizophrenia. The abundance of certain bacterial taxa might be associated with the severity of negative symptoms, cognitive performance and general functioning. Nonetheless, additional studies are needed before the translation of our results into clinical practice.
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Ermakov EA, Melamud MM, Buneva VN, Ivanova SA. Immune System Abnormalities in Schizophrenia: An Integrative View and Translational Perspectives. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:880568. [PMID: 35546942 PMCID: PMC9082498 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.880568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The immune system is generally known to be the primary defense mechanism against pathogens. Any pathological conditions are reflected in anomalies in the immune system parameters. Increasing evidence suggests the involvement of immune dysregulation and neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. In this systematic review, we summarized the available evidence of abnormalities in the immune system in schizophrenia. We analyzed impairments in all immune system components and assessed the level of bias in the available evidence. It has been shown that schizophrenia is associated with abnormalities in all immune system components: from innate to adaptive immunity and from humoral to cellular immunity. Abnormalities in the immune organs have also been observed in schizophrenia. Evidence of increased C-reactive protein, dysregulation of cytokines and chemokines, elevated levels of neutrophils and autoantibodies, and microbiota dysregulation in schizophrenia have the lowest risk of bias. Peripheral immune abnormalities contribute to neuroinflammation, which is associated with cognitive and neuroanatomical alterations and contributes to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. However, signs of severe inflammation are observed in only about 1/3 of patients with schizophrenia. Immunological parameters may help identify subgroups of individuals with signs of inflammation who well respond to anti-inflammatory therapy. Our integrative approach also identified gaps in knowledge about immune abnormalities in schizophrenia, and new horizons for the research are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgeny A Ermakov
- Laboratory of Repair Enzymes, Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Department of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Mark M Melamud
- Laboratory of Repair Enzymes, Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Valentina N Buneva
- Laboratory of Repair Enzymes, Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Department of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Svetlana A Ivanova
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Mental Health Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russia
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Mohan M, Perry BI, Saravanan P, Singh SP. COVID-19 in People With Schizophrenia: Potential Mechanisms Linking Schizophrenia to Poor Prognosis. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:666067. [PMID: 34079487 PMCID: PMC8166317 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.666067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
As the global burden of mortality from COVID-19 continues to rise, an understanding of who is most at risk of adverse outcomes is of paramount importance. Pre-existing cardiometabolic, renal and respiratory diseases as well as old age are well-established risk factors associated with disease severity and mortality among patients with COVID-19. However, mounting evidence also indicates an increased susceptibility to, and risk of adverse outcomes from COVID-19 in people with schizophrenia, independent of age and comorbidity. Therefore, elucidating the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms which may increase the risk of poor outcomes in people with schizophrenia is of crucial importance. Here, we provide a narrative on the current understanding of COVID-19 in patients with schizophrenia and propose potential mechanisms which may link schizophrenia with an increased susceptibility to, and greater risk of adverse outcomes from COVID-19. Given the existing knowledge gaps, robust clinical and biological studies are required to further our understanding of some of these underlying mechanisms, so that effective prevention and treatment strategies for COVID-19 in patients with schizophrenia can be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohapradeep Mohan
- Division of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin Ian Perry
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Ponnusamy Saravanan
- Populations, Evidence and Technologies, Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
- Academic Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, George Eliot Hospital, Nuneaton, United Kingdom
| | - Swaran Preet Singh
- Division of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
- Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust, Coventry, United Kingdom
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Misiak B, Bartoli F, Carrà G, Stańczykiewicz B, Gładka A, Frydecka D, Samochowiec J, Jarosz K, Hadryś T, Miller BJ. Immune-inflammatory markers and psychosis risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 127:105200. [PMID: 33740587 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Subclinical inflammation has been associated with psychosis; however, it remains unknown whether this phenomenon appears also in the premorbid phase. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing peripheral blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and cytokines between individuals at risk of psychosis and controls. Moreover, we tested the hypothesis that the levels of these markers may be different in high-risk converters versus non-converters. Two independent reviewers searched electronic databases until Dec 16th, 2020. After reviewing publication records, 16 studies (548 high-risk individuals and 559 controls) were included. Random-effects meta-analyses with Hedges' g as the effect size estimate were performed. Individuals at clinical risk of psychosis had significantly higher levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) compared to controls (g = 0.33, 95%CI: 0.06-0.60, p = 0.018). Heterogeneity was not significant in this subgroup analysis. Changes in the levels of IL-6 in subjects at familial risk of psychosis were not significant (g = 0.04, 95%CI: -0.24 to 0.31, p = 0.798). The use of antidepressants was associated with significantly higher levels of IL-6 in high-risk individuals (Beta = 1.56, 95%CI: 0.60-2.53, p = 0.001). No significant differences in the levels of immune-inflammatory markers were found between high-risk converters and non-converters. Our findings suggest that individuals at clinical risk of psychosis show subclinical inflammation in terms of elevated IL-6 levels. This phenomenon might be related to the use of antidepressants. The present meta-analysis does not support the usefulness of single immune-inflammatory markers in predicting transition to psychosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Błażej Misiak
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Francesco Bartoli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Carrà
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy; Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Anna Gładka
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Dorota Frydecka
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Jerzy Samochowiec
- Department of Psychiatry, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Konrad Jarosz
- Department of Clinical Nursing, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Tomasz Hadryś
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Brian J Miller
- Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
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Abstract
Schizophrenia is a serious neuropsychiatric disorder with abnormal age-related neurodevelopmental (or neurodegenerative) trajectories. Although an accelerated aging hypothesis of schizophrenia has been proposed, the quantitative study of the disruption of the physiological trajectory caused by schizophrenia is inconclusive. In this study, we employed 3 "epigenetic clock" methods to quantify the epigenetic age of a large sample size of whole blood (1069 samples from patients with schizophrenia vs 1264 samples from unaffected controls) and brain tissues (500 samples from patients with schizophrenia vs 711 samples from unaffected controls). We observed significant positive correlations between epigenetic age and chronological age in both blood and brain tissues from unaffected controls and patients with schizophrenia, as estimated by 3 methods. Furthermore, we observed that epigenetic age acceleration was significantly delayed in schizophrenia from the whole blood samples (aged 20-90 years) and brain frontal cortex tissues (aged 20-39 years). Intriguingly, the genes regulated by the epigenetic clock also contained schizophrenia-associated genes, displaying differential expression and methylation in patients with schizophrenia and involving in the regulation of cell activation and development. These findings were further supported by the dysregulated leukocyte composition in patients with schizophrenia. Our study presents quantitative evidence for a neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia from the perspective of a skewed "epigenetic clock." Moreover, landmark changes in an easily accessible biological sample, blood, reveal the value of these epigenetic clock genes as peripheral biomarkers for schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohui Wu
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangdong Technology and Engineering Research Center for Molecular Diagnostics of Human Genetic Diseases, and Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Genetic Testing, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China,Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Junping; Ye
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangdong Technology and Engineering Research Center for Molecular Diagnostics of Human Genetic Diseases, and Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Genetic Testing, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhongju Wang
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangdong Technology and Engineering Research Center for Molecular Diagnostics of Human Genetic Diseases, and Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Genetic Testing, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China,Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Cunyou Zhao
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangdong Technology and Engineering Research Center for Molecular Diagnostics of Human Genetic Diseases, and Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Genetic Testing, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China,Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China,To whom correspondence should be addressed; Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China; tel: (8620)-62789519, fax: (8620)-62789519, e-mail:
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Higgins-Chen AT, Boks MP, Vinkers CH, Kahn RS, Levine ME. Schizophrenia and Epigenetic Aging Biomarkers: Increased Mortality, Reduced Cancer Risk, and Unique Clozapine Effects. Biol Psychiatry 2020; 88:224-235. [PMID: 32199607 PMCID: PMC7368835 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.01.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schizophrenia (SZ) is associated with increased all-cause mortality, smoking, and age-associated proteins, yet multiple previous studies found no association between SZ and biological age using Horvath's epigenetic clock, a well-established aging biomarker based on DNA methylation. However, numerous epigenetic clocks that may capture distinct aspects of aging have been developed. This study tested the hypothesis that altered aging in SZ manifests in these other clocks. METHODS We performed a comprehensive analysis of 14 epigenetic clocks categorized according to what they were trained to predict: chronological age, mortality, mitotic divisions, or telomere length. To understand the etiology of biological age differences, we also examined DNA methylation predictors of smoking, alcohol, body mass index, serum proteins, and cell proportions. We independently analyzed 3 publicly available multiethnic DNA methylation data sets from whole blood, a total of 567 SZ cases and 594 nonpsychiatric controls. RESULTS All data sets showed accelerations in SZ for the 3 mortality clocks up to 5 years, driven by smoking and elevated levels of 6 age-associated proteins. The 2 mitotic clocks were decelerated in SZ related to antitumor natural killer and CD8T cells, which may help explain conflicting reports about low cancer rates in epidemiological studies of SZ. One cohort with available medication data showed that clozapine is associated with male-specific decelerations up to 7 years in multiple chronological age clocks. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates the utility of studying the various epigenetic clocks in tandem and highlights potential mechanisms by which mental illness influences long-term outcomes, including cancer and early mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert T Higgins-Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
| | - Marco P Boks
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Christiaan H Vinkers
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - René S Kahn
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Morgan E Levine
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
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Mazza MG, Lucchi S, Rossetti A, Clerici M. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, monocyte-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio in non-affective psychosis: A meta-analysis and systematic review. World J Biol Psychiatry 2020; 21:326-338. [PMID: 30806142 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2019.1583371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Objectives: Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR) are inexpensive and reproducible biomarkers of inflammation. This is the first meta-analysis exploring the role of NLR, MLR and PLR in non-affective psychosis.Methods: Eight studies have been identified from the main electronic databases. Meta-analyses based on random-effects models have been carried out generating pooled standardised mean differences (SMDs) between non-affective psychotic patients and healthy controls (HCs).Results: Subjects with non-affective psychosis had a significant higher NLR and MLR as compared with HC (respectively SMD = 0.715; P < 0.001; I2=57.565% and SMD = 0.417; P = 0.001; I2=65.754%), confirmed by heterogeneity-based sensitivity analysis. Subgroup analyses showed no differences in effect size across different study characteristics, including drug treatment status, diagnosis, and setting. Meta-regression showed that age influenced the relationship between non-affective psychosis and MLR. A trend of significance, not confirmed by heterogeneity-based sensitivity analysis, was observed in PLR with patients showing higher PLR than HC.Conclusions: Our meta-analysis supports the hypothesis that an inflammatory activation occurs in non-affective psychosis and inflammatory ratios, especially NLR and MLR, may be useful to detect this activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Gennaro Mazza
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Sara Lucchi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Aurora Rossetti
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Massimo Clerici
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy
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Misiak B, Ricceri L, Sąsiadek MM. Transposable Elements and Their Epigenetic Regulation in Mental Disorders: Current Evidence in the Field. Front Genet 2019; 10:580. [PMID: 31293617 PMCID: PMC6603224 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) are highly repetitive DNA sequences in the human genome that are the relics of previous retrotransposition events. Although the majority of TEs are transcriptionally inactive due to acquired mutations or epigenetic processes, around 8% of TEs exert transcriptional activity. It has been found that TEs contribute to somatic mosaicism that accounts for functional specification of various brain cells. Indeed, autonomous retrotransposition of long interspersed element-1 (LINE-1) sequences has been reported in the neural rat progenitor cells from the hippocampus, the human fetal brain and the human embryonic stem cells. Moreover, expression of TEs has been found to regulate immune-inflammatory responses, conditioning immunity against exogenous infections. Therefore, aberrant epigenetic regulation and expression of TEs emerged as a potential mechanism underlying the development of various mental disorders, including autism spectrum disorders (ASD), schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Consequently, some studies revealed that expression of some sequences of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) appears only in a certain group of patients with mental disorders (especially those with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and ASD) but not in healthy controls. In addition, it has been found that expression of HERVs might be related to subclinical inflammation observed in mental disorders. In this article, we provide an overview of detrimental effects of transposition on the brain development and immune mechanisms with relevance to mental disorders. We show that transposition is not the only mechanism, explaining the way TEs might shape the phenotype of mental disorders. Other mechanisms include the regulation of gene expression and the impact on genomic stability. Next, we review current evidence from studies investigating expression and epigenetic regulation of specific TEs in various mental disorders. Most consistently, these studies indicate altered expression of HERVs and methylation of LINE-1 sequences in patients with ASD, schizophrenia, and mood disorders. However, the contribution of TEs to the etiology of AD is poorly documented. Future studies should further investigate the mechanisms linking epigenetic processes, specific TEs and the phenotype of mental disorders to disentangle causal associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Błażej Misiak
- Department of Genetics, Wrocław Medical University, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Laura Ricceri
- Centre for Behavioural Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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Kozłowska E, Żelechowska P, Wysokiński A, Rasmus P, Łucka A, Brzezińska-Błaszczyk E. In vitro cytokine synthesis in unstimulated and mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from individuals with schizophrenia. J Investig Med 2019; 67:1053-1060. [PMID: 31053623 DOI: 10.1136/jim-2018-000964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Increasing evidence has shown that the immune system is involved in the schizophrenia development, with alterations in immune cell reactivity being one possible factor contributing to its pathogenesis. The purpose of the study was to evaluate in vitro the capability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from subjects with schizophrenia and controls to engage in spontaneous and phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated cytokine production. The concentrations of various cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-17A, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interferon (IFN)-γ and IL-10) in supernatants from cultured PBMCs were measured using the cytometric bead array. No significant differences in the spontaneous production of IL-1β, IL-17A, IFN-γ and IL-10 by PBMCs were detected between individuals with schizophrenia and controls. TNF synthesis by PBMCs was found to be lower among those with schizophrenia. In all subjects and controls, greater cytokine generation was associated with PBMCs treated with PHA compared with those that were not. The PBMCs from people with schizophrenia displayed considerably higher sensitivity to mitogen stimulation, as the production of IL-17A, TNF and IFN-γ was at least threefold of that observed in healthy subjects, which may be driven by antipsychotics taken by patients with schizophrenia. Correlation was observed between spontaneous production of IFN-γ and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale G subscore (which measures the general symptoms of schizophrenia) and between PHA-stimulated synthesis of IL-17A and G subscore. Our data confirm that the immune system dysregulation may underlie schizophrenia pathophysiology. There is a potential possibility that immunological tests could be used as a diagnostic, therapeutic and side-effects biomarker for schizophrenia, but further studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elżbieta Kozłowska
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Paulina Żelechowska
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Adam Wysokiński
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotic Disorders, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Paweł Rasmus
- Department of Medical Psychology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Anna Łucka
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotic Disorders, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
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Misiak B, Frydecka D, Stanczykiewicz B, Samochowiec J. Editorial: Peripheral Markers of Immune Response in Major Psychiatric Disorders: Where Are We Now and Where Do We Want to Be? Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:5. [PMID: 30723427 PMCID: PMC6349819 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2018] [Accepted: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Błazej Misiak
- Department of Genetics, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Dorota Frydecka
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland
| | | | - Jerzy Samochowiec
- Department of Psychiatry, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
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