Microglial Reactivity in the Prefrontal Cortex in Schizophrenia

Abstract

Background: schizophrenia is associated with neuroinflammation and dysregulation of the immune system involving microglia. The study of microglial reactivity in schizophrenia is at an early stage. The results of neuroimaging and postmortem studies are contradictory. Aim of the study: to analyze and summarize the results of morphometric studies of the microglial reactivity at the ultrastructural level in postmortem prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia compared to healthy controls. Material and methods: the study was performed in layer 5 of the prefrontal cortex in 21 cases of schizophrenia and 20 control cases using transmission electron microscopy and morphometry. Results and conclusion: we found that chronic schizophrenia is characterized by a combination of signs of activation, progressive dystrophy and accelerated aging of microglia. The reactivity of microglia in schizophrenia is associated with age, the age of onset of the disease, the duration of the disease and the type of course of the disease, which indicates the participation of microglia in the pathological process in schizophrenia. Damage and deficit mitochondria and the disturbance of energy metabolism can play a key role in microglial dysfunction in schizophrenia.