Effect of lithium in immunodeficiency: improved blood cell formation in mice with decreased hematopoiesis as the result of LP-BM5 MuLV infection

Maternal lithium chloride exposure alters the neuroendocrine-cytokine axis in neonatal albino rats

The aim of this work was to clarify whether maternal lithium chloride (LiCl) exposure disrupts the neonatal neuroendocrine-cytokine axis. Pregnant Wistar rats were orally administrated 50 mg LiCl/kg b.wt. from gestational day (GD) 1 to postpartum day 28. Maternal administration of LiCl induced a hypothyroid state in both dams and their neonates compared to the control dams and neonates at lactation days (LDs) 14, 21 and 28, where the levels of serum free triiodothyronine (FT3) and free thyroxin (FT4) were decreased and the level of serum thyrotropin (TSH) level was increased. A noticeable depression in maternal body weight gain, neonatal body weight and neonatal serum growth hormone (GH) was observed on all examined postnatal days (PNDs; 14, 21 and 28). A single abortion case was recorded at GD 17, and three dead neonates were noted at birth in the LiCl-treated group. Maternal administration of LiCl disturbed the levels of neonatal serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interferon-gamma (INF-γ), leptin, adiponectin and resistin at all tested PNDs compared to the control group. This administration produced a stimulatory action on the level of neonatal cerebral serotonin (5-HT) at PND 14 and on the level of neonatal cerebral norepinephrine (NE) at PNDs 21 and 28. However, this administration produced an inhibitory action on the level of neonatal cerebral dopamine (DA) at all examined PNDs and on the level of neonatal cerebral NE at PND 14 and the level of neonatal cerebral 5-HT at PNDs 21 and 28 compared to the corresponding control group. Thus, maternal LiCl exposure-induced hypothyroidism disrupts the neonatal neuroendocrine-cytokine system, which delay cerebral development.

A review of select minerals influencing the haematopoietic process

Micronutrients are indispensable for adequate metabolism, such as biochemical function and cell production. The production of blood cells is named haematopoiesis and this process is highly consuming due to the rapid turnover of the haematopoietic system and consequent demand for nutrients. It is well established that micronutrients are relevant to blood cell production, although some of the mechanisms of how micronutrients modulate haematopoiesis remain unknown. The aim of the present review is to summarise the effect of Fe, Mn, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Co, iodine, P, Se, Cu, Li and Zn on haematopoiesis. This review deals specifically with the physiological requirements of selected micronutrients to haematopoiesis, showing various studies related to the physiological requirements, deficiency or excess of these minerals on haematopoiesis. The literature selected includes studies in animal models and human subjects. In circumstances where these minerals have not been studied for a given condition, no information was used. All the selected minerals have an important role in haematopoiesis by influencing the quality and quantity of blood cell production. In addition, it is highly recommended that the established nutrition recommendations for these minerals be followed, because cases of excess or deficient mineral intake can affect the haematopoiesis process.

Isothiocyanates ameliorate the symptom of heart dysfunction and mortality in a murine AIDS model by inhibiting apoptosis in the left ventricle

Cardiac involvement has been reported in as many as 45-55% of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and significant cardiac morbidity is reported in 6-7% of HIV patients. We investigated the inhibitory effects of isothiocyanates (ITCs) on heart dysfunction and mortality by regulating apoptosis in the left ventricle of the heart in a murine AIDS model. Mice were divided into six groups: an uninfected group, an untreated LP-BM5 retrovirus-infected group, and four LP-BM5 retrovirus-infected groups treated with one of four ITCs (sulforaphane [SUL], indolo[3,2-b]carbazole, benzyl isothiocyanate [BITC], or phenethyl isothiocyanate [PEITC]). After 16 weeks, the median survival time of the LP-BM5 retrovirus-infected mice was 87 days, whereas that of the uninfected control group and all ITC treatment groups was over 112 days. SUL, PEITC, and BITC significantly inhibited apoptosis in the left ventricle by increasing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio compared with LP-BM5-infected mice. In addition, SUL and PEITC suppressed inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression at both the mRNA and protein levels in the left ventricle of heart tissue infected with the LP-BM5 retrovirus by inactivating cytoplasmic nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). In conclusion, LP-BM5 retrovirus infection was related to survival of murine AIDS mice, and NF-κB-mediated iNOS expression may be an important mediator of left ventricle dysfunction of the heart. Furthermore, certain ITCs may have the potential to improve AIDS-related heart dysfunction due to their inhibition of apoptosis by decreasing iNOS and Bax expression through suppression of NF-κB.

Lithium in the treatment of neutropenia

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The capacity of lithium to induce neutrophilia and increase circulating CD34(+) cells of marrow origin has long been known. Lithium has been the object of hematological investigations for many years, but no definitive use in hematology has yet emerged.

RECENT FINDINGS

We review the evidence that lithium increases granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and augments G-CSF effects, showing its potential use in stem cell mobilization and engraftment of stem cell transplantation.

SUMMARY

We suggest possible therapeutic uses of lithium in neutropenia. In bone marrow transplantation, preharvest lithium-assisted hematopoietic stem cell mobilization may be useful as well.

Effect of organic ligands with conjugated π-bonds on the structure of iodine-α-dextrin complexes

Using X-ray data for iodine-α-dextrin complexes and the results of quantum chemical ab initio restricted Hartree-Fock/3-21G(**) level calculations, a model of drug active complex (AC) Armenicum with anti-HIV action was proposed. It was suggested that the drug AC contains molecular iodine allocated inside of α-dextrin helix and coordinated by lithium halogenides and a protein component of lymphocyte ribosomes. The electronic structure of I(2) in this complex differs from its characteristics in complexes with organic ligands or the free I(2) . In the considered ACs, the molecular iodine displays acceptor (donor) properties toward the α-dextrins (lithium halogenides). A mechanism of Armenicum anti-HIV action is suggested. Under the influence of molecular iodine-containing drug AC, the structure of HIV DNA is modified-it becomes more π-donor-active against proteins and peptide nucleotides of viral DNA form a stable complex with molecular iodine and lithium halogenides.

Protective effects of lithium on acetic acid-induced colitis in rats

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a multifactorial disease with unknown etiology characterized by oxidative stress, leukocyte infiltration, and rise in inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha). Lithium, as a therapeutic agent for bipolar disorder, exerts some anti-inflammatory properties. In this study we have investigated the effects of lithium on acetic-acid-induced colitis in rats. Lithium (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) was administered 1 h before the introduction of acetic acid. Colonic status was investigated 24 h following colitis induction through macroscopic, histological, and biochemical analyses. Lithium (20 mg/kg) ameliorated macroscopic and microscopic scores. These observations were accompanied by a reduction in the degree of both neutrophil infiltration, indicated by decreased myeloperoxidase activity, and lipid peroxidation, as measured by a decline in malondialdehyde content in inflamed colon as well as a decrease in TNF-alpha levels. These findings suggest that lithium exerts beneficial effects on experimental colitis and therefore might be useful in the treatment of IBD.

Growth factor withdrawal from primary human erythroid progenitors induces apoptosis through a pathway involving glycogen synthase kinase-3 and Bax

The prevention of apoptosis is a key function of growth factors in the regulation of erythropoiesis. This study examined the role of the constitutively active serine/threonine kinase glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3), a target of the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, in the regulation of apoptosis in primary human erythroid progenitors. GSK3 phosphorylation at its key regulatory residues S21 (alpha isoform) and S9 (beta isoform) was high in steady-state culture, disappeared on growth factor withdrawal, and returned in response to treatment of cells with either erythropoietin or stem cell factor. Phosphorylation correlated with a PI3K-dependent reduction of 25% to 30% in measured GSK3 activity. LY294002, a specific inhibitor of PI3K, induced apoptosis in growth factor-replete erythroid cells to a degree similar to growth factor deprivation, whereas the Mek1 inhibitor U0126 had no effect, implicating PI3K and not mitogen-activated protein kinase in survival signaling. Growth factor-deprived erythroblasts, which undergo apoptosis rapidly, were protected from apoptosis by both lithium chloride, a GSK3 selective inhibitor, and inhibition of caspase activity. However, the clonogenic potential of single cells, which more accurately reflects cell survival, was maintained by lithium chloride, but not by caspase inhibition. Furthermore, lithium chloride, but not caspase inhibition, prevented the appearance of the conformational form of Bax associated with apoptosis induction. In summary, GSK3 activity is suppressed by erythropoietin and stem cell factor in human erythroid progenitor cells, and increased GSK3 activity, brought about by growth factor withdrawal, may regulate commitment to cell death through a caspase-independent pathway that results in a conformational change in Bax.

The effects of lithium on ex vivo cytokine production

BACKGROUND

Studies suggest that lithium may have profound immunomodulatory effects in animal models as well as in humans.

METHODS

In this study, whole blood cultures from normal control subjects were established for 5 days and the effects of lithium on cytokine production were investigated. Because many of lithium's actions have been postulated to be modulated through phosphoinositide (PI), protein kinase C (PKC) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (c-AMP) signaling pathways, the effects of myo-inositol and prostaglandin E(2), alone or in combination with lithium, were also investigated.

RESULTS

We found that lithium caused an increase in interleukin-4 and interleukin-10 levels, traditionally classified as T-helper lymphocyte type-2 cytokines, and a decrease in interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma levels, traditionally classified as T-helper lymphocyte type-1 (TH-1) cytokines. This shift cannot be fully explained by lithium's actions on the PI, PKC, or c-AMP messenger systems.

CONCLUSIONS

Monocytes exposed to lithium in the presence of a mitogen for 5 days produced a shift toward the production of TH-2 cytokines and away from the production of TH-1 cytokines. The study suggests that lithium may have complex time-dependent effects on immune function.

Increased number of peripheral blood CD34+ cells in lithium-treated patients

Eight adult patients with bipolar disorder were prospectively examined to find whether lithium carbonate increased their peripheral blood CD34+ haemopoietic stem cells. Following lithium therapy for 3-4 weeks their neutrophil counts increased by a mean of 88% (from 4625 +/- 1350 x 10(9)/l, mean +/- SD pretreatment, to a peak of 8300 +/- 3910 x 10(9)/l). Concommitantly, there was a significant increment in their CD34+ cells (from 0.11 +/- 0.01% to a peak of 0.18 +/- 0.08%). There was a significant correlation between the rise in neutrophil count and that of the CD34+ cells (r = 0.795, P = 0.019). Lithium therapy may be used to mobilize peripheral blood CD34+ cells for marrow transplantation.