Schizophrenia breakthrough: Scientists identify new suspect at 'scene of crime'

Authored by watoday.com.au and submitted by Wagamaga
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As a type of immune cell, it has always been considered one of the good guys. But in a stunning breakthrough in schizophrenia research, scientists say the "macrophage" immune cell can go rogue, causing havoc in the brain.

"Macrophage" means "big eaters" in Greek and is a fitting name for the cell because - when behaving - it digests cellular debris and foreign substances.

Australian researchers have, for the first time, identified the presence of macrophage cells in the brain tissue of a subgroup of people with schizophrenia.

"It's like a murder mystery, one that’s remained unsolved for a hundred years," Professor Cyndi Shannon Weickert from Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) said.

"All of a sudden a new suspect is recognised, an individual that was actually there at the scene of the crime at the time the crime was committed ... a new culprit that could be triggering schizophrenia."

marcvsHR on September 13rd, 2018 at 13:28 UTC »

So basically some scizophrenic cases might actually be autoimmune deseases?

earthdc on September 13rd, 2018 at 12:38 UTC »

Following decades of clinical study and health care practice, this report begs;

how come clearly evident and easily recognizable Macrophage hadn't been ID'd in glial structures before?

Wagamaga on September 13rd, 2018 at 10:21 UTC »

As a type of immune cell, it has always been considered one of the good guys. But in a stunning breakthrough in schizophrenia research, scientists say the "macrophage" immune cell can go rogue, causing havoc in the brain.

"Macrophage" means "big eaters" in Greek and is a fitting name for the cell because - when behaving - it digests cellular debris and foreign substances.

Australian researchers have, for the first time, identified the presence of macrophage cells in the brain tissue of a subgroup of people with schizophrenia.

"It's like a murder mystery, one that’s remained unsolved for a hundred years," Professor Cyndi Shannon Weickert from Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) said.

"All of a sudden a new suspect is recognised, an individual that was actually there at the scene of the crime at the time the crime was committed ... a new culprit that could be triggering schizophrenia."

https://www.watoday.com.au/healthcare/schizophrenia-breakthrough-scientists-suspect-immune-cells-20180412-p4z986.html

Study https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-018-0235-x