Objective: Accumulating evidence suggests alterations of the innate immune system are related to schizophrenia, although the precise mechanism remains to be elucidated. In this study, we aimed to detect the monocytic toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression under basal and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated conditions in first-episode (FE) Han Chinese patients with schizophrenia, as well as its association with cognitive function. Methods: Whole blood samples were taken in 42 FE schizophrenia patients and 36 healthy controls. Expressions of TLR4 on monocytes under basal and LPS-stimulated conditions were measured with flow cytometry. Psychopathological symptoms of schizophrenia were assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) was administered to all of the participants. Results: We found no differences in percentage and mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of TLR4 expression on monocytes between patients and controls at basal status. However, LPS challenge resulted in a lower cell-surface level of TLR4 on monocytes in FE schizophrenia patients as compared to healthy controls (TLR4+%: F = 4.092, p = 0.047; TLR4 + MFI: F = 4.820, p = 0.031). In addition, correlation analysis together with multivariate linear regression analysis identified basal percentage of TLR4 in monocytes as the beneficial factor for visual learning and working memory in FE patients with schizophrenia. Conclusions: Our findings suggested that TLR4 may be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, corroborating the role of innate immunity-related functional deficits in increased risk of schizophrenia.Keywords: Cognition; First-episode schizophrenia; Monocytes; Psychopathology; Toll-like receptor 4.

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乐备实（上海优宁维生物科技股份有限公司旗下全资子公司），是国内专注于提供高质量蛋白检测以及组学分析服务的实验服务专家，自2018年成立以来，乐备实不断寻求突破，公司的服务技术平台已扩展到单细胞测序、空间多组学、流式检测、超敏电化学发光、Luminex多因子检测、抗体芯片、PCR Array、ELISA、Elispot、PLA蛋白互作、多色免疫组化、DSP空间多组学等30多个，建立起了一套涵盖基因、蛋白、细胞以及组织水平实验的完整检测体系。

 
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