muramidase and Schizophrenia

A total of 102 patients with progressive forms of schizophrenia with a pronounced deficital symptomatology were treated. The dynamics of some indices of nonspecific reactivity (properdin, lysozyme, complement) were studied parallely. Yeast sodium nucleinate promotes a softening and reverse development of some deficital symptoms (mainly in an emotional-volutional sphere), decreasing the threshold of sensitivity to neuroleptics. When remission occurred, the immunological indices returned to normal.

Topics: Adult; Antipsychotic Agents; Clinical Trials as Topic; Complement System Proteins; Drug Evaluation; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Muramidase; Nucleic Acids; Properdin; RNA; Schizophrenia; Time Factors

The serum levels of lactoferrin, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), lysozyme and beta 2-microglobulin have been measured in schizophrenic patients in an attempt to elucidate the activity and turnover of neutrophil and eosinophil granulocytes, macrophages/monocytes and lymphocytes, respectively. Serum-lactoferrin and serum-ECP levels were significantly (P less than 0.001) higher in the patient group as compared to healthy controls in contrast to blood cell counts and serum-lysozyme and serum- beta 2-microglobulin levels which all were within normal limits. The results were not affected by anti-psychotic therapy. A significant correlation was found between serum-ECP and serum-lactoferrin levels which may suggest a common underlying cause of the elevated levels. The findings suggest an increased eosinophil and neutrophil activity and/or turnover in schizophrenia and may have a bearing on the well-known altered inflammatory response associated with this syndrome.

Topics: Adult; Antipsychotic Agents; beta 2-Microglobulin; Blood Proteins; Eosinophil Granule Proteins; Eosinophils; Female; Humans; Lactoferrin; Lactoglobulins; Leukocyte Count; Leukocytes; Male; Middle Aged; Muramidase; Ribonucleases; Schizophrenia

In a controlled study the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) in red and white blood cells, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT) and lysozyme in serum and white blood cells was studied in 22 drug-free schizophrenic patients and 17 healthy volunteers. The activities of the above enzymes were found to be reduced in the white cells of schizophrenics compared with controls. The differences in activity of G-6-PD in red cells and of gamma-GT and lysozyme in serum between the two groups were not revealed as significant. The observed low enzyme activities might provide a further basis for interpreting the reported functional deficiency in neutrophils of schizophrenics. Possible mechanisms in relation to biological abnormalities in schizophrenia are discussed.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Female; gamma-Glutamyltransferase; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase; Humans; Leukocytes; Male; Middle Aged; Muramidase; Psychotic Disorders; Schizophrenia; Schizophrenia, Catatonic; Schizophrenia, Disorganized; Schizophrenia, Paranoid

Topics: Humans; Immunity; Mental Disorders; Muramidase; Schizophrenia