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Distribution of HLA-DR-positive microglia in schizophrenia reflects impaired cerebral lateralization

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Abstract

Immunological alterations have been demonstrated in peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with schizophrenia, while previous postmortem studies have provided an inconsistent picture as to the role of microglia in the context of schizophrenia. Microglial activation is a sensitive indicator of changes in the CNS microenvironment, such as inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes. The aim of the present postmortem study was to examine HLA class II (HLA-DR) expression on microglia in brain regions which are particularly relevant for schizophrenia, with regard to hemispheric lateralization. Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), hippocampus and mediodorsal thalamus (MD) were studied in 16 cases with schizophrenia and 16 control subjects. Immunostaining was found in all brain regions and was not restricted to macrophage-like ameboid cells, but also appeared in ramified cells. Region-specific HLA-DR-positive cell density was not significantly different between cases with schizophrenia and controls. However, ameboid microglial cells were lateralized towards the right hemisphere in healthy subjects but not in the schizophrenia group (P=0.01). Postmortem interval correlated with ramified cell numbers in ACC/DLPFC (P=0.01/0.04) and ameboid cell density in hippocampus (P=0.03). Age, gender, duration of disease, medication dosage, storage delay and whole brain volume had no effect. Single case analysis revealed highly elevated microglial cell numbers in ACC and MD of two schizophrenic patients who had committed suicide during acute psychosis. In conclusion, the present data suggest the absence of microgliosis but decreased cerebral lateralization of ameboid microglia in schizophrenia.

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Acknowledgments

The Saxony-Anhalt Ministry of Research (XN3594O/0405M, Signaltransduzierende Netzwerke N2), German Ministry of Research (BMBF-NBL3 01ZZ0107, BrainNet) and Stanley Foundation supported the present study. We thank Dr. Alan Richardson-Klavehn for checking the English language of the manuscript. Gabriele Meyer-Lotz and Sieglinde Funke provided excellent technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Magdeburg, Leipziger Strasse 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany

    Johann Steiner, Anke Ziegeler, Hendrik Bielau, Hans-Gert Bernstein & Bernhard Bogerts

  2. Institute of Neuropathology, University of Magdeburg, Leipziger Strasse 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany

    Christian Mawrin

  3. Institute of Immunology, University of Magdeburg, Leipziger Strasse 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany

    Oliver Ullrich

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  1. Johann Steiner
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Correspondence to Johann Steiner.

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Steiner, J., Mawrin, C., Ziegeler, A. et al. Distribution of HLA-DR-positive microglia in schizophrenia reflects impaired cerebral lateralization. Acta Neuropathol 112, 305–316 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-006-0090-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-006-0090-8

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