Microglia and Other Cellular Mediators of Immunological Dysfunction in Schizophrenia: A Narrative Synthesis of Clinical Findings
Khoa D. Nguyen,
Andrea Amerio,
Andrea Aguglia,
Luca Magnani,
Alberto Parise,
Benedetta Conio,
Gianluca Serafini,
Mario Amore,
Alessandra Costanza
Affiliations
Khoa D. Nguyen
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA
Andrea Amerio
Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy
Andrea Aguglia
Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy
Luca Magnani
Department of Psychiatry, San Maurizio Hospital of Bolzano, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
Alberto Parise
Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, University Hospital of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
Benedetta Conio
Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy
Gianluca Serafini
Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy
Mario Amore
Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy
Alessandra Costanza
Department of Psychiatry, Adult Psychiatry Service, University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG), 1207 Geneva, Switzerland
Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric condition that may involve immune system dysregulation. Since most putative disease mechanisms in schizophrenia have been derived from genetic association studies and fluid-based molecular analyses, this review aims to summarize the emerging evidence on clinical correlates to immune system dysfunction in this psychiatric disorder. We conclude this review by attempting to develop a unifying hypothesis regarding the relative contributions of microglia and various immune cell populations to the development of schizophrenia. This may provide important translational insights that can become useful for addressing the multifaceted clinical presentation of schizophrenia.
