Schizophrenia, a mental disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and cognitive impairment, affects over two million US citizens. Typically diagnosed in late teens to early thirties, its etiology remains largely unknown but likely involves disrupted brain development. The immune system has long been suspected in schizophrenia pathology, with patients showing increased inflammatory markers, autoantibodies, and immune cell activation.

This project focuses on T cells, which may play a crucial role in schizophrenia. We will investigate whether patients have increased frequencies of T cells reactive to 12 proteins previously targeted by autoantibodies. Since autoantibody production requires T cell support, schizophrenia patients may have elevated antigen-specific T cells. Through collaboration with the University of Genoa, we will analyze blood samples from 15 schizophrenia patients, 15 healthy controls, and 15 bipolar disorder patients.

If successful, this would be the first study identifying disease-specific T cells in schizophrenia, potentially enabling targeted therapeutic interventions to prevent the onset of the disease.