Neuroimmune biomarkers in schizophrenia

Abstract Schizophrenia is a heterogeneous psychiatric disorder with a broad spectrum of clinical and biological manifestations. Due to the lack of objective tests, the accurate diagnosis and selection of effective treatments for schizophrenia remains challenging. Numerous technologies have been empl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Schizophrenia research 2016-09, Vol.176 (1), p.3-13
Main Authors: Tomasik, Jakub, Rahmoune, Hassan, Guest, Paul C, Bahn, Sabine
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Add-on treatment
Biomarker
Biomarkers
Humans
Immune system
Personalised medicine
Psychiatry
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia - diagnosis
Schizophrenia - immunology
Schizophrenia - therapy
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Summary:Abstract Schizophrenia is a heterogeneous psychiatric disorder with a broad spectrum of clinical and biological manifestations. Due to the lack of objective tests, the accurate diagnosis and selection of effective treatments for schizophrenia remains challenging. Numerous technologies have been employed in search of schizophrenia biomarkers. These studies have suggested that neuroinflammatory processes may play a role in schizophrenia pathogenesis, at least in a subgroup of patients. The evidence indicates alterations in both pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules in the central nervous system, which have also been found in peripheral tissues and may correlate with schizophrenia symptoms. In line with these findings, certain immunomodulatory interventions have shown beneficial effects on psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia patients, in particular those with distinct immune signatures. In this review, we evaluate these findings and their potential for more targeted drug interventions and the development of companion diagnostics. Although currently no validated markers exist for schizophrenia patient stratification or the prediction of treatment efficacy, we propose that utilisation of inflammatory markers for diagnostic and theranostic purposes may lead to novel therapeutic approaches and deliver more effective care for schizophrenia patients.
ISSN:0920-9964
1573-2509
DOI:10.1016/j.schres.2014.07.025