A scientific review has found evidence that an interruption of blood clotting and the first-line immune system could be factors contributing to the development of psychosis.
The article, a joint collaborative effort by researchers from RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Cardiff University and the UCD Conway Institute, is published in Molecular psychiatry.
Recent studies have identified blood proteins involved in the innate immune system and blood clotting networks as key actors involved in psychosis.
The researchers analyzed these studies and developed a new theory that proposes that the imbalance of these two systems leads to inflammation, which in turn contributes to the development of psychosis.
The work proposes alterations in immune defense mechanisms, including blood clotting—It will lead to an increased risk of inflammation, which is thought to contribute to the development of psychosis.
The new theory further perfects the prevailing “two successes” hypothesis, where early genetics and / or environmental factors it disrupts the developing central nervous system (the “first time”) and increases the individual’s vulnerability to later and late environmental alterations (the “second time”).
“Early identification and treatment significantly improve the clinical outcomes of psychotic disorders. Our theory can provide a further step in the biomarkers of psychosis and allow the identification of therapeutic targets for early and older patients. effective treatment“, said Dr. Melanie Föcking, first co-author of the paper and professor of Psychiatric Neuroscience in the Department of Psychiatry at RCSI.
“While the idea of psychosis resulting from some type of inflammation and immune activation is not new, our data suggest a new understanding and shift of focus toward a combined function of the innate immune complement system and clotting pathways. towards progression to psychotic disorder “. said Dr Meike Heurich, first joint author of the paper and professor at Cardiff University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
“The work is based on our recent studies that increasingly involve deregulation of complement pathways and coagulation, both in psychotic disorder and in the precedent,” said Professor David Cotter, lead author of the article and professor of molecular psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at RCSI.
Meike Heurich et al, Deregulation of complement pathways and coagulation: emerging mechanisms in the development of psychosis, Molecular psychiatry (2021). DOI: 10.1038 / s41380-021-01197-9
Provided by RCSI
Citation: Immune and blood clotting components could contribute to psychosis (2021, July 16) recovered on July 17, 2021 at https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-07-immune-clotting-components- blood-contribute.html
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