ABSTRACT
Schizophrenia is one of the most serious and common mental disorders, which is characterized by high levels of pathogenic heterogeneity as well as neuroimmune abnormalities, which require treatment with antipsychotic drugs. Monoamines are one of the key neurotransmitters which play an important role in neuroimmune interactions of the human organism. We suggest that the quantity of the monoamine receptors on mononuclear cells of the peripheral blood (PBMCs) can be associated with the cytokine profile of patients. With this quantity being a key component of the mental status correction mechanism in antipsychotic therapy. In this study we measured cytokine levels (IL-6, IL-1b and TGF-b) in blood serum, the protein expression status of the serotonin receptor 5HTR2A and the dopamine receptors D1 (DRD1), DRD2, DRD3 in PBMCs of drug-naive, first episode schizophrenia patients before and after the treatment with olanzapine and haloperidol. This study has shown for the first time that the antipsychotic therapy leads to a decrease in protein levels of monoamine receptors in PBMCs associated with the affinity of the drug used. Blood cytokine levels were significantly higher in serum from studied patients as compared with the reference values. The antipsychotic-linked change of the TGF-b production caused by the therapy is probably associated with the reduction of various monoamine receptors. The relationship between the psychopathological status and the protein level of 5THR2A suggests that the amount of 5HTR2A may serve as a potential biomarker for the personalized appointment of the antipsychotic therapy.
