ABSTRACT
Schizophrenia is a chronic and debilitating mental disorder that affects approximately 1% of the world population. Inflammation is a complex response of a living body to pathological agent. This normal response plays the role to eliminate the pathogens by starting the immune response. The pro-inflammatory cytokines are divided into predominantly pro-inflammatory and predominantly anti-inflammatory types. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-), are secreted by monocytes and macrophages and activate other cellular components of the inflammatory response. Anti-inflammatory cytokines with properties, such as interleukin-4 (IL-4), help to down-regulate the inflammatory immune response.
Keywords: schizophrenia, inflammation, cytokines, treatment, antipsychotics.
Corresponding author:
Lorena DIMA
Nicolae Balcescu street, no 56, Brasov, Romania, 500029
E-mail: lorenadima@yahoo.com, phone: +40723791322
