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Inflammation, Oxidation Associated With Aggression in Schizophrenia
Systemic pro-inflammation, pro-oxidation, and leaky gut biomarkers were significantly higher in inpatients with schizophrenia with aggression than in inpatients with schizophrenia without aggression, according to a study published online in BMC Psychiatry.
“The present study was the first to compare the state of inflammation, oxidation, intestinal microbiota, and metabolites in schizophrenia inpatients with or without aggression,” researchers wrote. “Results indicate pro-inflammation, pro-oxidation, and leaky gut phenotypes relating to enteric dysbacteriosis and microbial short-chain fatty acids feature the aggression in schizophrenia individuals, which provides clues for future microbial-based or anti-inflammatory/oxidative therapies on aggression in schizophrenia cases.”
The study involved 25 inpatients with schizophrenia and aggression and 25 inpatients with schizophrenia without aggression at a tertiary psychiatric hospital in Henan Province, China. Serum and stool specimens were collected and analyzed for systemic inflammation, oxidation and leaky gut biomarkers, gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids, and neurotransmitters.
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Patients with schizophrenia with aggression had dramatically increased serum levels of the nucleic acid oxidation biomarker 8-OH-DG and lipid oxidation biomarker 8-ISO compared with those without aggression, according to the study.
Compared with the group without aggression, the group with aggression had less alpha-diversity and evenness in fecal bacteria. Specifically, Prevotella was significantly increased, and Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium, Blautia, Bifidobacterium, Collinsella, and Eubacterium coprostanoligenes were significantly decreased. Additionally, six short-chain fatty acids and six neurotransmitters were lower in patients with aggression.
Analysis showed a positive correlation between pro-oxidation and systemic pro-inflammation response or aggression severity, researchers reported.
“These results collectively suggest the co-contributory role of systemic pro-inflammation and pro-oxidation in the development of aggression in schizophrenia,” they advised.
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