Detection of autoantibodies against GABAARα1 in patients with schizophrenia

Recent studies have identified autoantibodies against synaptic molecules in patients with encephalitis. Autoantibodies against the N-Methyl-D-Aspartate receptor have been reported in patients with schizophrenia; however, autoantibodies against other molecules are yet to be identified. This study used a cell-based assay to examine serum samples from individuals with schizophrenia and healthy controls. The results showed that 5 (8.6%) of 57 patients with schizophrenia harbor autoantibodies against the alpha 1 subunit of the g-aminobutyric acid A receptor (GABA(A)R alpha 1), which are currently not know to be linked to the pathology of this disease. Some patients showed markedly high antibody titers (i.e., 1:10,000 -100,000). None of the heathy control subjects were positive for GAB(A)AR alpha 1 antibodies. Therefore, these autoantibodies may form the basis of GABA-mediated pathology in a subgroup of patients with schizophrenia. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.