Serum IL-4 and IL-10 Levels Correlate with the Symptoms of the Drug-Naive Adolescents with First Episode, Early Onset Schizophrenia

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to understand the underlying possible immunopathogenesis of first episode, early onset schizophrenia (EOS) through profiling the T helper 1 (Th-1) cell cytokines TNF-, IFN-, and IL-2, Th-2 cell cytokines IL-4 and IL-10, Th-17 cell cytokine IL-17A, and inflammatory cytokine IL-6. Methods: The study included a total of 30 children, admitted to child psychiatry outpatient clinic aged between 10 and 17 years of age, who had not received prior therapy and were diagnosed with psychosis according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) as the patient group, and 26 age- and gender-matched children as the control group. Structured psychiatric interviews (K-SADS-PL and PANSS) were conducted with all participants. The BD Cytokine Bead Array Human Th-1/Th-2/Th-17 Cytokine Kit is used for the measurement of serum cytokines, for example, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, TNF-, and IFN-. Results: There was no significant difference between groups in terms of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, TNF-, and IFN- levels (p>0.05). However, there was a significant correlation between IL-10 and IL-4 with negative symptoms of EOS (r=-0.65, p=0.02 and r=0.67, p=0.02, respectively). Conclusion: IL4 and IL-10 levels have a relationship with negative symptoms of disease. Therefore, this study might suggest that immunological processes might have a role in the disease pathophysiology.