The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology

Table of Contents - 2006 - Volume 9, Issue 03  


Brief Report

The effects of celecoxib augmentation on cytokine levels in schizophrenia

Catherine J. Bresee a1, Katia Delrahim a2, Rachel E. Maddux a3, Douglas Dolnak a4, Oliver Ahmadpour a5 and Mark Hyman Rapaport a1a6c1
a1 Department of Psychiatry, Cedars–Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
a2 School of Public Health, Pepperdine University, Los Angeles, CA, USA
a3 Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
a4 Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
a5 Department of Psychiatry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
a6 Department of Psychiatry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Article author query
bresee cj   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
delrahim k   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
maddux re   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
dolnak d   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
ahmadpour o   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
rapaport mh   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 

Abstract

Celecoxib augmentation therapy has been reported to enhance the rate of clinical response for patients with schizophrenia. This may be due in part to an effect of celecoxib in the immune dysfunction associated with schizophrenia. Given concerns about the safety of COX-2 inhibitors, studies investigating cytokine levels in medicated patients with schizophrenia are of public health importance. Twenty-eight schizophrenia subjects stabilized on olanzapine or risperidone were randomized to receive 8 wk of celecoxib (400 mg/d) or placebo. Serum soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2r) and in-vitro PHA-stimulated whole-blood cytokine production levels were measured at baseline, 1 wk, and 8 wk. Celecoxib augmentation did not alter any of the cytokine parameters measured for the overall study group. However, 1 wk of celecoxib augmentation increased TNF-α and IL-2 production levels in olanzapine-treated subjects. These elevations did not persist by week 8. Overall, celecoxib does not significantly modify cytokine levels in medicated schizophrenia subjects.

(Received February 18 2005)
(Reviewed March 21 2005)
(Revised April 27 2005)
(Accepted May 9 2005)
(Published Online July 22 2005)


Key Words: Celecoxib; cytokines; schizophrenia.

Correspondence:
c1 Psychiatry Department, Cedars–Sinai Medical Center, 8730 Alden Drive, Room C301, Los Angeles, CA 90045, USA. Tel.: (310) 423-3600 Fax: (310) 423-8397 E-mail: mark.rapaport@cshs.org

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