Associations of serum TNF-α, IL-8, and IL-18 levels with the clinical symptoms in acute schizophrenia: a cross-sectional study

作者：Li Xu, Haidong Yang, Wanming Chen, Man Yang, Jing Zhang, Xiaobin Zhang, Xiaowei Tang · 发表于：BMC Psychiatry · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1186/s12888-025-07549-x · 被引用次数：1 · 研究领域：Tryptophan and brain disorders、Schizophrenia research and treatment、Inflammasome and immune disorders

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory responses may play a significant role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, but the relationship of inflammatory cytokines with clinical symptoms of acute patients remains incompletely understood. This study aimed to investigate serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-8, and IL-18 and the potential association with clinical symptoms of acute schizophrenia patients. METHODS: The cohort of the cross-sectional study included 71 acute schizophrenia patients (medication-free ≥ 4 weeks) and 55 healthy controls. Clinical symptoms were assessed using the five-factor Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Serum TNF-α, IL-8, and IL-18 levels were measured using Luminex liquid suspension chip assay technology. RESULTS: As compared to healthy controls, acute schizophrenia patients exhibited significantly higher serum levels of TNF-α and IL-8 (both, p < 0.001), while IL-18 levels were significantly lower (p < 0.001). After controlling for confounding factors, serum levels of TNF-α (β = 0.368, p = 0.003) and IL-8 (β = 0.414, p = 0.001) were positively correlated with the PANSS anxiety/depression factor. TNF-α was positively correlated with IL-8 (r = 0.334, p = 0.004) and IL-18 (r = 0.301, p = 0.011). Sex did not modulate the relationship between IL-8 and anxiety/depression symptoms (p = 0.572). Additionally, IL-18 was positively correlated with body mass index (r = 0.295, p = 0.019) and sex (r = 0.384, p = 0.001), while the excit...