Galectins and the Interleukin-33/Suppression of Tumorigenicity-2 Pathway in First-episode Psychosis and Schizophrenia: A Cross-sectional Exploratory Study
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Psychiatry, Ankara Atatürk Sanatoryum Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye
- 2Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques, Gülhane Vocational School of Health Services, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Türkiye
- 3Department of Psychiatry, Ankara Etlik City Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye
- 4Department of Psychiatry, Gülhane Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye
- 5Department of Psychiatry, Gülhane Faculty of Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Türkiye
Abstract
Objective: Immune dysregulation has been increasingly implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, although findings regarding inflammatory biomarkers remain heterogeneous. Regulatory immune mediators, including galectins and the interleukin-33 (IL-33)/suppression of tumorigenicity-2 (ST2) pathway, may provide further insight into neuroimmune alterations across psychotic disorders. This study aimed to compare serum levels of galectin-1, galectin-3, galectin-4, IL-33, and soluble ST2 (sST2) among individuals with first-episode psychosis (FEP), schizophrenia, and healthy controls (HC), and to examine their associations with clinical severity.
Methods: Eighty-six participants (30 FEP, 29 schizophrenia, 27 HC) were included in this cross-sectional naturalistic study. Psychopathology was assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and the Clinical Global Impressions–Severity (CGI-S) scale. Biomarker levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Group differences were analyzed using ANOVA and ANCOVA adjusted for relevant covariates. Effect sizes were estimated with eta-squared (η2), and multiple comparisons were controlled using the Benjamini–Hochberg false discovery rate (FDR) procedure. Correlation analyses were considered exploratory.
Results: Nominal group differences were observed for galectin-3 (p = 0.043) and sST2 (p = 0.018), with lower levels in schizophrenia and intermediate levels in FEP; however, these differences did not remain significant after FDR correction. Effect size analyses indicated small-to-moderate group effects. Exploratory analyses showed inverse associations between several biomarkers and clinical severity, but after FDR correction, only the association between sST2 and CGI-S remained significant.
Conclusion: Galectin-3 and sST2 may be associated with immune-regulatory processes in psychotic disorders. However, the findings should be considered exploratory, and larger longitudinal studies are needed.
Related
- The Role of Soluble Suppression of Tumorigenicity-2 and Galectin-3 in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Scoping Review of the Literature
- Longitudinal Changes in Serum Interleukin-33 Levels During Acute Psychotic Relapse and Clinical Improvement in Schizophrenia: An Admission-Discharge Study
- Interleukin-31 Induces Itch-Related Responses with Precursor Behaviors in Mice and Its Suppression by the Dopamine D₂/D₃ Receptor Agonist Ropinirole
- An exploratory factor analysis of Telugu versions of the WHO well-being index, the UCLA-loneliness scale and the perceived criticism scale in caregivers of schizophrenia patients
- Peripheral blood correlates of negative symptom severity in schizophrenia: exploratory findings from an Indian cohort
BibTeX
@article{ucar2026galectins,
title = {{Galectins and the Interleukin-33/Suppression of Tumorigenicity-2 Pathway in First-episode Psychosis and Schizophrenia: A Cross-sectional Exploratory Study}},
author = {Hüseyin Uçar and Meryem Sebla Ertuğrul and Eda Uçar and Sinan Yetkin and Özcan Uzun},
journal = {Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience},
year = {2026},
month = may,
doi = {10.9758/cpn.26.1429},
url = {https://doi.org/10.9758/cpn.26.1429},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Galectins and the Interleukin-33/Suppression of Tumorigenicity-2 Pathway in First-episode Psychosis and Schizophrenia: A Cross-sectional Exploratory Study
AU - Hüseyin Uçar
AU - Meryem Sebla Ertuğrul
AU - Eda Uçar
AU - Sinan Yetkin
AU - Özcan Uzun
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/05/13
JO - Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience
DO - 10.9758/cpn.26.1429
UR - https://doi.org/10.9758/cpn.26.1429
AB - Objective: Immune dysregulation has been increasingly implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, although findings regarding inflammatory biomarkers remain heterogeneous. Regulatory immune mediators, including galectins and the interleukin-33 (IL-33)/suppression of tumorigenicity-2 (ST2) pathway, may provide further insight into neuroimmune alterations across psychotic disorders. This study aimed to compare serum levels of galectin-1, galectin-3, galectin-4, IL-33, and soluble ST2 (sST2) among individuals with first-episode psychosis (FEP), schizophrenia, and healthy controls (HC), and to examine their associations with clinical severity. Methods: Eighty-six participants (30 FEP, 29 schizophrenia, 27 HC) were included in this cross-sectional naturalistic study. Psychopathology was assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and the Clinical Global Impressions–Severity (CGI-S) scale. Biomarker levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Group differences were analyzed using ANOVA and ANCOVA adjusted for relevant covariates. Effect sizes were estimated with eta-squared (η2), and multiple comparisons were controlled using the Benjamini–Hochberg false discovery rate (FDR) procedure. Correlation analyses were considered exploratory. Results: Nominal group differences were observed for galectin-3 (p = 0.043) and sST2 (p = 0.018), with lower levels in schizophrenia and intermediate levels in FEP; however, these differences did not remain significant after FDR correction. Effect size analyses indicated small-to-moderate group effects. Exploratory analyses showed inverse associations between several biomarkers and clinical severity, but after FDR correction, only the association between sST2 and CGI-S remained significant. Conclusion: Galectin-3 and sST2 may be associated with immune-regulatory processes in psychotic disorders. However, the findings should be considered exploratory, and larger longitudinal studies are needed.
SN - 1738-1088
SN - 2093-4327
ER -