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BMC Psychiatry
Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Immunoglobulin sub-class distribution in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia: potential relationship with latent Toxoplasma Gondii infection

Authors: Nora Hamdani, Djaouida Bengoufa, Ophélia Godin, Raphaël Doukhan, Emmanuel Le Guen, Claire Daban-Huard, Meriem Bennabi, Marine Delavest, Jean-Pierre Lépine, Wahid Boukouaci, Hakim Laouamri, Josselin Houenou, Stéphane Jamain, Jean-Romain Richard, Philippe Lecorvosier, Robert Yolken, Krishnamoorthy Rajagopal, Marion Leboyer, Ryad Tamouza

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Immune dysfunction could play a significant role in the pathogenesis of bipolar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia (SZ), conditions with an underlying pro-inflammatory state. Studies on humoral immune responses (which reflects antibody mediated fight against pathogens) in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are sparse and often providing contradictory results. The aim of this study was to assess humoral immunity in a group of stable bipolar disorder and schizophrenia patients compared to controls by determining total Immunoglobulins and IgG subclasses and to assess their association with latent Toxoplasma gondii and/or CMV infection.

Methods

334 subjects (124 BD, 75 SZ and 135 Healthy Controls [HC]) were included and tested for humoral immunity by determining the total immunoglobulins (IgG,A and M) and IgG subclasses (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4) and their relationship with latent Toxoplasma gondii infection, an established risk factor for BD and SZ.

Results

Although lower levels of IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgG4 and IgA were found among BD as compared to HC and/or SZ, after adjustment for confounding variables, only low levels of IgG and IgG1 in BD remai- ned significant. Strikingly highest levels of antibodies to T. gondii (but not CMV) infection in BD and SZ were associated with lowest levels of IgG3 and IgG4 levels as compared to controls.

Conclusions

Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder patients with latent T. gondii specific infection may be more vulnerable to changes in immuno-inflammatory processes than controls with similar latent infectious state. Simultaneous sequential immunological monitoring both in steady state and active disease phases in the same BD and SZ patients are warranted to understand the role of Toxoplasma gondii latency in these disorders.
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Metadata
Title
Immunoglobulin sub-class distribution in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia: potential relationship with latent Toxoplasma Gondii infection
Authors
Nora Hamdani
Djaouida Bengoufa
Ophélia Godin
Raphaël Doukhan
Emmanuel Le Guen
Claire Daban-Huard
Meriem Bennabi
Marine Delavest
Jean-Pierre Lépine
Wahid Boukouaci
Hakim Laouamri
Josselin Houenou
Stéphane Jamain
Jean-Romain Richard
Philippe Lecorvosier
Robert Yolken
Krishnamoorthy Rajagopal
Marion Leboyer
Ryad Tamouza
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1821-9

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