The influence of typical and atypical neuroleptic drugs in the production of interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma in vitro.

Alterations of cytokine levels represent the most consistent finding from studies concerning the involvement of the immune system in the etiology of schizophrenia. These results have been discussed controversially due to the potential influence of drug treatment on cytokine production and on the experimental procedures used for cytokine measurement. In the present study, the influences of typical and atypical neuroleptic drugs (haloperidol and clozapine) as well as a tricyclic antidepressive drug (amitriptyline) on cytokine levels (IL-2 and IFN-gamma) were examined in vitro in a whole blood assay under various conditions of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation and drug incubation. Stimulation was enhanced by haloperidol and clozapine, but not by the antidepressant, meaning that the results of decreased cytokine levels seen in earlier studies in schizophrenic patients cannot be explained through drug influences alone. Furthermore, our findings allow us to conclude that, in contrast to the antidepressant drug, the typical and atypical neuroleptic drugs seem to influence the examined cytokine levels.

Copyright 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel