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Decreased serum TNF-alpha levels in chronic schizophrenia patients on long-term antipsychotics: correlation with psychopathology and cognition

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Abstract

Objective

A substantial body of evidence implicates TNF-alpha (TNFα) and TNFα-related signaling pathways in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The current study examined the relationship between TNFα serum levels and both psychopathological as well as cognitive symptoms in schizophrenia.

Materials and methods

Serum TNFα levels were assessed in 89 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and compared to 43 healthy control subjects matched for age and gender. Schizophrenic symptomatology was assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and serum TNFα levels were measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

TNFα levels were significantly lower in patients with chronic schizophrenia relative to healthy control subjects (p < 0.01). Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between the TNFα levels and the PANSS total score (p < 0.01). Additionally, TNFα levels were significantly negatively correlated with scores on general psychopathology (p < 0.01), positive (p < 0.05) and cognitive subscales (p < 0.05). Stepwise multiple regression analysis identified TNFα levels as a significant predictor of scores on the general psychopathology subscale of the PANSS.

Conclusion

The significant relations observed in the current study between TNFα and the PANSS and its subscales suggest that immune disturbance may be involved in the psychopathology and cognitive deficits of schizophrenia.

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Acknowledgments

Funding for this study was provided by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81371477), the Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation (7132063 and 7072035), the NARSAD Independent Investigator Grant (20314), and the Stanley Medical Research Institute (03T-459 and 05T-726). These sources had no further role in study design in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, in the writing of the report, and in the decision to submit the paper for publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China

    Meng Han Lv, Yun Long Tan, Shao Xiao Yan, Da Chun Chen, Shu Ping Tan, Zhi Ren Wang, Fu De Yang & Xiang Yang Zhang

  2. Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    Li Tian

  3. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Harris County Psychiatric Center, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 1941 East Road, Houston, TX, 77054, USA

    Jin H. Yoon, Giovana B. Zunta-Soares, Jair C. Soares & Xiang Yang Zhang

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  1. Meng Han Lv
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  2. Yun Long Tan
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  3. Shao Xiao Yan
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  4. Li Tian
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  8. Fu De Yang
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Correspondence to Xiang Yang Zhang.

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Meng Han Lv and Yun Long Tan contributed equally to the study.

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Lv, M.H., Tan, Y.L., Yan, S.X. et al. Decreased serum TNF-alpha levels in chronic schizophrenia patients on long-term antipsychotics: correlation with psychopathology and cognition. Psychopharmacology 232, 165–172 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-014-3650-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-014-3650-y

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