Effects of Antipsychotics on the Inflammatory Response System of Patients with Schizophrenia in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Cultures

Objective: We investigated the effects of antipsychotics on immune challenged peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures. Methods: Blood samples were collected from twelve patients with first episode schizophrenia. The PBMCs were separated and cultures were prepared and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly[I:C]), and then separately treated with a typical antipsychotic (haloperidol) or atypical antipsychotic (clozapine, quetiapine, or risperidone). Pro-inflammatory (interferon gamma [IFN-gamma]) and anti-inflammatory (interleukin [IL]-4 and IL-10) cytokine levels were measured in the LPS- or poly(I:C) stimulated PBMC cultures treated with antipsychotics. Results: Haloperidol and quetiapine significantly increased the IL-4 levels (p<0.05) in LPS-stimulated PBMC cultures, while clozapine and quetiapine significantly enhanced the IL-4 levels (p<0.05) in poly(I:C)-stimulated PBMC cultures. Only treatment with haloperidol resulted in a significant increase in IL-10 production (p<0.05) in LPS stimulated PBMC cultures, whereas cloza pine, quetiapine, and risperidone treatment significantly increased IL-10 production (p<0.05) in poly(I:C)-stimulated PBMC cultures. All of the antipsychotics reduced the IFN-gamma level significantly (p<0.05) in LPS and poly(I:C)-stimulated PBMC cultures. Conclusion: Antipsychotic treatment altered immune function by raising the levels of anti inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) and suppressing the levels of pro inflammatory cytokines (IFN-gamma).