Development of a powerful test for diagnosis of schizophrenia
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Development of a powerful test for diagnosis of a subgroup of schizophrenia
IRAS ID
138154
Contact name
Jun Wei
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of the Highlands & Islands
Research summary
Several lines of evidence suggest that dysfunction of the immune system may play a role in developing schizophrenia. Elevated levels of autoantibodies against some self-proteins, such as neurotransmitter receptors, have been found in patients with schizophrenia. Powerful genetic analysis, called genome-wide association (GWA) study, with large sample size suggests that the chromosomal region, called human leukocyte antigen (HLA) that genetically controls immune function, is strongly associated with schizophrenia. Increased expression of HLA molecules have been shown in some forms of white blood cells, which are responsible for the development of immunity in the body. These observations raise the possibility that there may be a subset of individuals for whom schizophrenia is driven by abnormal autoimmunity. The proposed study is thus undertaken to detect antibodies against some self-proteins encoded by schizophrenia risk genes identified by GWA studies. The following objectives are expected to be achieved through this study: (i) identification of proteins responsible for an abnormal autoimmunity in schizophrenia, (ii) detection of individual autoantibodies associated with schizophrenia, (iii) development of a powerful test for diagnosis of a subgroup of schizophrenia with mixed protein-derived antigens. Outcomes from the proposed study will be useful to develop a strategy of screening patients with schizophrenia and provide an effective treatment to the patients who are carrying schizophrenia-related autoantibodies.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
13/NS/0125
Date of REC Opinion
1 Nov 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion