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Review
. 2023 Sep;130(9):1187-1193.
doi: 10.1007/s00702-023-02605-w. Epub 2023 Feb 21.

Microglia and microbiome in schizophrenia: can immunomodulation improve symptoms?

Georg Juckel  1 , Nadja Freund  2
Affiliations
Review

Microglia and microbiome in schizophrenia: can immunomodulation improve symptoms?

Georg Juckel et al. J Neural Transm (Vienna). 2023 Sep.

Abstract

In this overview, influences of microglia activation and disturbances of the microbiome in the devastating disorder schizophrenia are discussed. Despite previous assumptions of a primary neurodegenerative character of this disorder, current research underlines the important autoimmunological and inflammatory processes here. Early disturbances of microglial cells as well as cytokines could lead to weakness of the immunological system in the prodromal phase and then fully manifest in patients with schizophrenia. Measurements of microbiome features might allow identifying the prodromal phase. In conclusion, such thinking would imply several new therapeutic options regulating immune processes by old or new anti-inflammatory agents in patients.

Keywords: Immunomodulation; Microbiome; Microglia; Schizophrenia.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Confocal microscopy of resting (a) and activated (b) microglia cells
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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