Binding of 3H-spiperone to human lymphocytes: A biological marker in schizophrenia?

The specific binding of the dopamine antagonist 3H-spiperone to lymphocytes from a healthy control group ( n = 40), a group of acute, unmedicated schizophrenic patients ( n = 27), and a psychiatric control group ( n = 16) was investigated. There were no differences in binding parameters between the healthy controls ( B max 2.6 ± 0.7 fmoles/10 6 cells; K d 0.17 ± 0.07 n M) and the psychiatric controls group. Binding capacity of 3H-spiperone was significantly incresed in lymphocytes from the schizophrenic patients ( B max 14.4 ± 9.3 fmoles/10 6 cells). Moreover, a slight decrease in affinity was observed ( K d 0.44 ± 0.21 n M). Because the increase in binding appeared only in schizophrenic patients, this peripheral model could prove valuable as a diagnostic criterion.