Unveiling the Interplay of EBV, HSV-1, and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Psychiatric Disorders

TL;DR

The study finds distinct patterns of virus exposure and inflammation in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression compared to healthy individuals.

Contribution

Identifies disorder-specific immunovirological profiles in psychiatric disorders, highlighting potential for biomarker-based treatment strategies.

Findings

Schizophrenia is linked to higher EBV seropositivity and systemic inflammation compared to controls.

Bipolar disorder shows elevated HSV-1 seropositivity without increased inflammation.

Major depressive disorder exhibits inflammatory dysregulation independent of viral exposure.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Schizophrenia (SCH), bipolar disorder (BPD), and major depressive disorder (MDD) are increasingly viewed as neuroimmune disorders shaped by viral exposure and inflammation. Disorder-specific immunovirological profiles, however, remain poorly defined. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we assessed Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV) and Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1) seropositivity and measured serum CRP, IL-6, and IL-1β in 708 participants: 110 with SCH, 121 with BPD, 135 with MDD, and 342 healthy controls (HC). Statistical analyses included Shapiro–Wilk tests for normality; Kruskal–Wallis with Bonferroni-adjusted Dunn post hoc comparisons; and logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, and marital status. Results: EBV seropositivity was higher in SCH (90.9%) than in HC (78.9%) (OR = 3.46, 95% CI: 1.68–7.12; p = 0.001) but not in BPD or MDD. HSV-1 seropositivity was elevated in BPD (83.5%) versus HC (67.0%) (OR = 2.29, 95% CI: 1.34–3.92; p = 0.003), with no differences in SCH or MDD. Inflammatory biomarkers were significantly increased in SCH and MDD compared to HC (p < 0.001), while BPD showed no differences. Conclusions: The findings delineate distinct immunovirological patterns across major psychiatric disorders. Schizophrenia was characterized by EBV seropositivity accompanied by systemic inflammatory activation, bipolar disorder by HSV-1 seropositivity in the absence of inflammatory changes, and major depressive disorder by inflammatory dysregulation independent of viral exposure. These disorder-specific profiles highlight heterogeneity in neuroimmune pathways and underscore the potential relevance of biomarker-based stratification for generating hypotheses regarding targeted antiviral or anti-inflammatory interventions in psychiatric populations.

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