Antibodies to neuroblastoma cell line proteins in patients with schizophrenia

Schizophrenia and Alarmins

Schizophrenia, consisting of a group of severe psychiatric disorders with a complex etiology, is a leading cause of disability globally. Due to the lack of objective indicators, accurate diagnosis and selection of effective treatments for schizophrenia remain challenging. The association between schizophrenia and alarmins levels has been proposed for many years, but without solid evidence. Alarmins are prestored molecules that do not require processing and can be released upon cell death or damage, making them an ideal candidate for an early initiator of inflammation. Immunological biomarkers seem to be related to disease progression and treatment effectiveness. Several studies suggest strong associations among the high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1), interleukin-1α, interleukin-33, S100B, heat-shock proteins, and uric acid with schizophrenic disorders. The purpose of this review is to discuss the evidence of central and peripheral immune findings in schizophrenia, their potential causes, and the effects of immunomodulatory therapies on symptoms and outline potential applications of these markers in managing the illness. Although there are currently no effective markers for diagnosing or predicting treatment effects in patients with schizophrenia, we believe that screening immune-inflammatory biomarkers that are closely related to the pathological mechanism of schizophrenia can be used for early clinical identification, diagnosis, and treatment of schizophrenia, which may lead to more effective treatment options for people with schizophrenia.

Interactions of Antibodies to the Gram-Negative Gastric Bacterium Helicobacter pylori with the Synaptic Calcium Sensor Synaptotagmin 5, Correlate to Impaired Vesicle Recycling in SiMa Human Neuroblastoma Cells

Due to molecular mimicry, maternal antibacterial antibodies are suspected to promote neurodevelopmental changes in the offspring that finally can cause disorders like autism and schizophrenia. Using a human first trimester prenatal brain multiprotein array (MPA), we demonstrate here that antibodies to the digestive tract bacteria Helicobacter pylori (α-HPy) and Campylobacter jejuni (α-CJe) interact with different synaptic proteins, including the calcium sensor synaptotagmin 5 (Syt5). Interactions of both antisera with Syt5 were confirmed by Western blot with a HEK293-cells overexpression lysate of this protein. Immunofluorescence and Western blotting revealed SiMa cells to express Syt5, which also co-migrated with a band/spot labeled by either α-HPy or α-CJe. Functionally, a 12-h pretreatment of SiMa cells with 10 μg/ml of either α-HPy or α-CJe resulted in a significant reduction of acetylcholine(ACh)-dependent calcium signals as compared to controls. Also ACh-dependent vesicle recycling was significantly reduced in cells pretreated with either α-HPy or α-CJe. Similar effects were observed upon pretreatment of SiMa cells with Syt5-specific antibodies. In conclusion, the present study supports the view that prenatal maternal antibacterial immune responses towards HPy and by this to Syt5 are able to cause functional changes, which in the end might contribute also to neurodevelopmental disorders.

Depression in adolescent girls: Relationship to serum vitamins a and E, immune response to heat shock protein 27 and systemic inflammation

BACKGROUND

The inflammation and oxidative stress are thought to play an important role in the etiopathogenesis of some psychological disorders. We aimed to assess the potential relationships between serum fat soluble vitamins (Vitamins A and E), antibody titers to Hsp27 (anti-Hsp27) and hematological markers of inflammation, with mood disorders in a population of adolescent girls.

METHODS

A total of 563 adolescent girls (Age 12-18 years) were included in the study. The presence and severity of depression, insomnia and sleepiness were assessed using validated questionnaires. Serum vitamins A and E, anti-Hsp27 antibody titers, white blood cell, lymphocyte, neutrophil, platelet counts, and red blood cell distribution width (RDW), were also measured. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and RDW to platelet ratio (RPR) were calculated.

RESULTS

Serum anti-HSP27 antibody titers, PLR, and RPR values was significantly higher in subjects with a high depression score compared to normal individuals (p < 0.05). However, there was no association between serum inflammatory markers concentrations and sleep disorders; although individuals with insomnia had a lower vitamin E/HDL ratio compared to healthy adolescents. In multivariate logistic regression analyses adjusted for potential confounders, anti-HSP was an independent predictor of severe depression (OR = 5.0, 95% CI: 1.6-15.7, p < 0.05).

LIMITATION

The cross-sectional design of study and the inclusion of only female adolescents participants are limitations.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that serum anti-HSP27 antibody titers may be useful biological marker in depressive patients. This finding may support a role of oxidative stress in the etiology of depression, and targeting this pathway may be of value in the treatment of depression.

Anti-heat shock protein 90 is increased in acute mania

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this work was to examine autoantibodies in patients with bipolar disorder.

METHOD

We enrolled 94 patients with acute bipolar mania, with 37 of them medicated and 57 unmedicated at the time of blood sampling. The samples also consisted of 44 patients in the remission state and another 48 normal controls. We first used human glioblastoma (U373 MG) cell lysate to screen the potential autoantibodies present in sera of bipolar mania patients, and anti-heat shock protein (anti-HSP) 60, 70 and 90 autoantibodies were identified. We then examined the serum levels of these autoantibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

The findings of this study showed that serum anti-HSP90 level was significantly higher in bipolar patients in acute mania than those in remission (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

The data of this study suggest that increased anti-HSP90 might be a state marker for acute mania in patients with bipolar disorder.

Polymorphisms of heat shock protein 70 gene (HSPA1A, HSPA1B and HSPA1L) and schizophrenia

The heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) is believed to be involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia with regards to neurodevelopment. An aberration in the HSP70 has been proposed in schizophrenia patients, suggesting that it is a candidate gene for schizophrenia. This study aimed to investigate the association between the three polymorphisms of HSP70-1 (HSPA1A), HSP70-hom (HSPA1L) and HSP70-2 (HSPA1B) and schizophrenia. One hundred and sixty-one patients with schizophrenia and 165 controls were enrolled in the study. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with a restriction fragment length enzyme (RFLP) was used to genotype the HSPA1A, HSPA1L and HSPA1B polymorphisms. There were no significant differences in the allelic or genotype frequencies of the HSPA1A and HSPA1L polymorphisms between the schizophrenia patients and the controls, while there was a marginal difference in the genotype frequency of the HSPA1B polymorphisms, and a significant difference in the allelic frequency of the HSPA1B polymorphisms between the schizophrenia patients and the controls. There was no evidence of an association between the clinical variables and schizophrenia across the genotypes among the three HSP70 gene polymorphisms. These results suggest that a HSPA1B polymorphism might be related to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia at least in the Korean population. Therefore, larger studies from different ethnic groups should be performed to confirm these results.

Effects on rat thalamic proteome by acute and subchronic MK-801-treatment

Since the symptoms of intoxication with non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists closely mimic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia, [+]-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo-[a,d]-cycloheptene-5,10-iminehydrogenmaleate (MK-801)-treated rodents are often used as a model for schizophrenia. In most studies, acute injections of MK-801 to rats have been used, but in some studies, longer periods of treatment have been performed. In our previous work, alterations in mRNA/protein expression were screened in the cerebral cortex of MK-801 treated rats. Different proteins were altered in different treatment courses of MK-801. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate different treatment periods of treatment with MK-801 in rats as a model for schizophrenia. Thalamus proteins from treated (acute, six and 12 days) and control rats were analyzed with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Our results show that different treatment times of MK-801 to rats give different biochemical results. Therefore, it is important to use the same treatment time in studies that will be compared.

Increased seroreactivity in tic disorder patients to a 60 kDa protein band from a neuronal cell line

In tic disorders, increased seroreactivity against neuronal antigens has been demonstrated, without performing molecular characterization of antigens. Here, unselected patients with a tic disorder were compared with healthy controls, autistic disorder (AD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients. Seroreactivity against neuroblastoma cells was analyzed by Western blot. Anti-60 kDa binding occurred significantly more frequently in tic disorder patients (67.1%) than in AD (40.0%), OCD (40.0%) and healthy controls (41.9%). Sequence analysis of the 60 kDa protein band identified this as a ubiquitous heat shock protein. However, the involvement of other autoantigens with a molecular weight of 60 kDa cannot be excluded.

Studies characterizing 60 kda autoantibodies in subjects with schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

Studies suggest that schizophrenic patients have an increased prevalence of serum antibodies to neuroblastoma cell proteins migrating at 60 kilodaltons (kDa). We present work identifying and characterizing 60 kDa antigen-antibody interactions.

METHODS

Sera from schizophrenic subjects and normal volunteers were screened by Western blotting. Proteins migrating at 60 kDa were characterized by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and indirect immunofluorescent staining of human epithelial cell (HEp-2) slides. Human brain and bladder cell complementary deoxyribonucleic acid libraries were screened with immunoaffinity-purified antibodies. Complementary deoxyribonucleic acid clones were sequenced and compared with published databases. Proteins were generated by in vitro transcription/translation and expression in an Escherichia coli BL21 system. Immunoprecipitation and immunohistochemistry studies were performed.

RESULTS

Fifteen percent (17/117) of schizophrenic subjects and 3% (2/62) of normal volunteers had autoantibodies that reacted with 60 kDa proteins [chi(2)(1) = 4.4, p =.037]. Five percent of subjects had autoantibodies directed against 60 kDa heat shock protein (HSP60) [chi(2)(1) = 3.3, p =.100). Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis identified 13 different proteins migrating at 60 kDa; 5 were splice variants of HSP60, and 2 corresponded with a protein associated with MYC (PAM).

CONCLUSIONS

There is an increased prevalence of autoantibodies that bind to proteins migrating at 60 kDa in subjects with schizophrenia. Potential target antigens include HSP60 and PAM.

Comparative genome- and proteome analysis of cerebral cortex from MK-801-treated rats

cDNA microarrays and two-dimensional gel-electrophoresis in combination with mass spectrometry, were used to screen alterations in mRNA and protein levels, respectively, in cerebral cortex of MK-801-treated rats. The rats were divided in two groups; group 1 (short-term treated) and group 2 (long-term treated). In group 1, four genes were up-regulated and five down-regulated. In group 2, seven genes were up-regulated and six down-regulated. In group 1, the levels of one protein was increased and eight proteins reduced. In group 2, the levels of two proteins were increased and four proteins reduced. Several of the altered genes (casein kinase 2, glutamic acid decarboxylase, synaptotagmin, gamma aminobutyric acid [GABA] transporter, creatine kinase, and cytochrome c oxidase) and proteins (superoxide dismutase, hsp 60, hsp 72 and gamma-enolase) have previously been connected to schizophrenia. Alterations of the genes (microglobulin, c-jun proto-oncogene, 40S ribosomal protein S19, adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribosylation factors, platelet-derived growth factor, fructose-bisphophate aldolase A, and myelin proteolipid) and the proteins (stathmin, H+-transp. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, beta-actin and alpha-enolase), have not, to our knowledge, earlier been implicated in schizophrenia pathology. Overall, these results with a combined approach of genomics and proteomics add to the validity of subchronic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-receptor antagonist treatment as an animal model of schizophrenia.

Review of immunological and immunopathological findings in schizophrenia

The involvement of immunological and immunopathological mechanisms in the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia has been a matter of research, with recently increasing effort. This article reviews the findings focusing on postmortem neuropathology, the blood-brain barrier, antibodies, acute phase proteins, immunocompetent cells, and activation markers of immunocompetent cells. Evidence for the two primarily postulated hypotheses (the infectious hypothesis and the autoimmune hypothesis) is critically discussed. On the basis of the findings, perspectives for future research are outlined aiming at a precise and consequent strategy to elucidate a potential involvement of immune mechanisms in the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia.

Identification of antibodies to heat shock proteins 90 kDa and 70 kDa in patients with schizophrenia

OBJECTIVES

Recent reports of antibodies to heat shock proteins 60kDa (HSP60) and HSP70 suggested that antibodies to the heat shock protein that plays a protective role against environmental stresses in a cell might be related to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, although the antibody to HSP90 had not yet been identified in patients with schizophrenia. In this study, we tried to elucidate the specific involvement of the autoimmunity to HSPs in the pathogenesis and development of schizophrenia.

METHODS

Antibodies to HSP90 and HSP70 in 90 patients with schizophrenia and in 83 normal controls were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) coupled with the avidin-biotin system. In the patients, the association between antibody levels and clinical variables were sought. In addition, changes in antibody levels after treatment with antipsychotic medication were investigated.

RESULTS

Eighteen (20.0%) of the 90 patients showed 'high' levels of antibody to HSP90 above a cutoff value, and 28 (31.1%) of those showed 'high' antibody levels to HSP70. On the other hand, only four (4.8%) of the normal controls showed 'high' HSP90 antibody levels, and one (1.2%) of these showed 'high' antibody level to HSP70. The distribution of elevated HSP90 antibody was significantly associated with that of elevated HSP70 antibody in the patients with schizophrenia. The patients with 'high' levels of antibody to HSP70 showed higher initial Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) scores and showed greater clinical improvement than those with 'low' levels, while the patients with 'high' levels of antibody to HSP90 did not. The frequency of patients with high levels of antibody to HSP70 was decreased significantly after 6 weeks of antipsychotic treatment, while the frequency of patients with high levels of antibody to HSP90 was not.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results presented the presence of abnormal immune reactivity involving antibody to HSP90 and antibody to HSP70 in a subset of patients with schizophrenia. Differential patterns of distribution, of the association with clinical symptom severity, and of the changes of levels with treatment suggested the possibility that these two antibodies might be involved specifically in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.

The Th2-hypothesis of schizophrenia: a strategy to identify a subgroup of schizophrenia caused by immune mechanisms

Immunologic findings in schizophrenia have been described for decades, but it was not possible to identify a pathogen until now. Most of these studies report immune abnormalities in a group of the investigated patients, but a distinct subgroup of schizophrenia with immune-related pathology has still not been characterized. In this paper we have integrated the most important immunologic data in schizophrenia research and hypothesize a shift to Th2-like immune reactivity in a subgroup of schizophrenic patients. Besides the immunological abnormalities, this subgroup is further characterized by more pronounced negative symptoms and poor therapy outcome. There is evidence that this subgroup might be caused by a prenatal viral infection.