Göran Engberg

Abstract The complement genes C4A and C4B share high sequence similarity yet differ in biological function and disease relevance. C4A, in contrast to C4B, is implicated in synaptic pruning and increased risk for schizophrenia, however beyond this their distinct roles within the human brain remain poorly understood.

Abstract Patients with schizophrenia have a threefold higher mortality from cardiovascular disease than people in the general population. Atherosclerosis is linked to immune activation, a process tentatively entwined with the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of schizophrenia.

I. Introduction Research in the areas of physiology and pharmacology at Karolinska Institutet has a long history that can be traced back to 1874 and 1866 when the respective departments were founded. This year, in 2024, the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology celebrates the 75-year anniversary of its inauguration on April 23, 1949. The department currently has about 400 active and affiliated employees distributed across 35 research groups.