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Impaired monocyte activation in schizophrenia: ultrastructural abnormalities and increased IL-1β production

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Abstract

Monocyte activation is consistently reported in patients with schizophrenia (SZ). We aimed to study the ultrastructure of monocytes and monocyte production of IL-1β in drug-free patients with SZ and controls. Monocytes from young (18–30 y.o.) healthy and SZ men in relapse were studied. Electron microscopy and morphometry were applied to estimate areas of monocytes, volume density (Vv), areas, and number of organelles. The production IL-1β by monocytes was estimated by the ELISA method. Group differences were examined using ANCOVA. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were used to examine the effects of possible confounding variables. Correlation analyses were applied to detect the relationships between the parameters of monocytes measured and between the parameters measured and the IL-1β production. Area of nucleolus, Vv and area of mitochondria and lysosomes, and the number of lysosomes were significantly increased in patients as compared to controls. Area of mitochondria was correlated significantly with Vv and area of lysosomes, and the number of lysosomes was significantly correlated with area of monocyte and Vv of vacuoles only in the control group. The production of IL-1β by monocytes was higher in patients than in controls (p = 0.01) and was correlated with Vv of lysosomes (r = 0.68, p = 0.04) and area of lysosomes (r = 0.78, p = 0.013). The data provide new evidence for over activation of monocytes in SZ and disturbed metabolic relationships between lysosomes, mitochondria, and vacuoles.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported from the Federal Budget. The authors would like to thank technician O.V. Litvinova for her expert technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Clinical Neuropathology, Mental Health Research Centre, Zagorodnoe Shosse 2, Moscow, 117152, Russia

    Natalya A. Uranova, P. D. Bonartsev & V. I. Rakhmanova

  2. Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, Mental Health Research Centre, Zagorodnoe Shosse 2, Moscow, 117152, Russia

    L. V. Androsova

  3. Department of Endogenous Psychoses, Mental Health Research Centre, Zagorodnoe Shosse 2, Moscow, 117152, Russia

    V. G. Kaleda

Authors
  1. Natalya A. Uranova
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  2. P. D. Bonartsev
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  3. L. V. Androsova
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  4. V. I. Rakhmanova
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  5. V. G. Kaleda
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Correspondence to Natalya A. Uranova.

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Uranova, N.A., Bonartsev, P.D., Androsova, L.V. et al. Impaired monocyte activation in schizophrenia: ultrastructural abnormalities and increased IL-1β production. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 267, 417–426 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-017-0782-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-017-0782-1

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