The present findings reveal that upregulation of RP5-998N21.4 promotes the activity of immune response-related pathways through upregulation of IFIT2 and IFIT3 in the context of schizophrenia and that overexpression of this lncRNA can enhance IFIT2- and IFIT3-mediated antiviral defense responses through activation of STAT1 signaling pathways in human U251 astrocytoma cells treated with the viral mimetic poly I:C. The gene discussed is IFIT3; the disease is schizophrenia.