Investigating the aetiopathogenic role of autoantibodies against the M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor in patients with first episode of schizophrenia

此前，我们已经发现，有一部分精神分裂症患者的抗体水平升高，这些抗体针对的是神经递质受体之一的M1乙酰胆碱受体，而抗体水平最高的患者往往会有更严重的精神分裂症症状的表现。在这个项目中，我们将尝试确认这种关系，并进一步调查这种抗体可能如何恶化特定的症状。

Previously we have found that a proportion of patients with schizophrenia have elevated levels of antibodies that target one of the neurotransmitter receptors, the M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor, and that those patients who have the highest levels of antibodies tend to have more severe manifestations of some of the symptoms of schizophrenia. In this project, we will try to confirm this relationship, and also investigate further how this antibodies might be able to worsen specific symptoms.