Increase in expression of adhesion molecule receptors on T helper cells during antipsychotic treatment and relationship to blood-brain barrier permeability in schizophrenia

Am J Psychiatry. 1999 Apr;156(4):634-6.

Abstract

Objective: The authors estimated the expression of adhesion molecule receptors (VLA-4 and LFA-1) on T helper (CD4+) and T suppressor/cytotoxic (CD8+) lymphocytes in schizophrenic patients before and during antipsychotic treatment and studied the relationship of these subpopulations to CSF measures and blood-brain barrier permeability.

Method: Blood was drawn from hospitalized patients with schizophrenia before (N = 45) and after (N = 22) neuroleptic treatment and from an age-matched comparison group (N = 41). Lumbar punctures were performed on 32 of the schizophrenic patients.

Results: During antipsychotic treatment there were significant increases in the percentage of VLA-4+/CD4+ and VLA-4+/CD8+ cells. VLA-4+/CD4+ and LFA-1+/CD4+ cells were both closely related to disturbance of the blood-brain barrier. Higher values for VLA-4+/CD4+ and LFA-1+/CD4+ cells were found in patients with a disturbed blood-brain barrier.

Conclusions: The findings suggest that adhesion molecules are involved in immunoregulation between the central nervous system and the peripheral immune system in schizophrenia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antipsychotic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / drug effects
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / physiology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / analysis
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Integrin alpha4beta1
  • Integrins / analysis
  • Integrins / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Permeability / drug effects
  • Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing / analysis
  • Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing / metabolism
  • Receptors, Very Late Antigen / analysis
  • Receptors, Very Late Antigen / metabolism*
  • Schizophrenia / blood
  • Schizophrenia / drug therapy*
  • Schizophrenia / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / chemistry
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / metabolism*
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / analysis
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Integrin alpha4beta1
  • Integrins
  • Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing
  • Receptors, Very Late Antigen
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1