1
|
Neal MA, Strawbridge R, Wing VC, Cousins DA, Thelwall PE. Human brain 7Li-MRI following low-dose lithium dietary supplementation in healthy participants. J Affect Disord 2024; 360:139-145. [PMID: 38810780 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.05.128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lithium is an effective mood stabiliser, but its mechanism of action is incompletely defined. Even at very low doses, lithium may have neuroprotective effects, but it is not clear if these relate to brain lithium concentration in vivo. We have developed magnetic resonance imaging (7Li-MRI) methods to detect lithium in the brain following supplementation at a very low dose. METHODS Lithium orotate supplements were taken by nine healthy adult male subjects (5 mg daily) for up to 28 days, providing 2-7 % of the lithium content of a typical therapeutic lithium carbonate dose. One-dimensional 7Li-images were acquired on a 3.0 T MRI scanner. All subjects were scanned on day 14 or 28; seven were scanned on both, one at baseline and one after 7-days washout. RESULTS 7Li-MR signal amplitude was broadly stable between days 14 and 28. Two subjects had notably higher 7Li-signal intensities (approximately 2-4×) compared to other study participants. LIMITATIONS Lithium adherence was self-reported by all participants without formal validation. The coarse spatial resolution necessary for detection of low concentrations of 7Li exhibits imperfect spatial separation of signal from adjacent pixels. CONCLUSIONS 7Li-MRI performed using a clinical 3T scanner demonstrated detection of lithium in the brain at very low concentration, in the range of approximately 10-60 mM. The methods are suited to studies assessing low dose lithium administration in psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, and permit the comparison of different lithium salt preparations at a time of emerging interest in the field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mary A Neal
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre, Health Innovation Neighbourhood, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Rebecca Strawbridge
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Victoria C Wing
- Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre, Health Innovation Neighbourhood, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - David A Cousins
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre, Health Innovation Neighbourhood, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
| | - Peter E Thelwall
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre, Health Innovation Neighbourhood, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Singulani MP, Ferreira AFF, Figueroa PS, Cuyul-Vásquez I, Talib LL, Britto LR, Forlenza OV. Lithium and disease modification: A systematic review and meta-analysis in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 95:102231. [PMID: 38364914 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
The role of lithium as a possible therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases has generated scientific interest. We systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed pre-clinical and clinical studies that evidenced the neuroprotective effects of lithium in Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). We followed the PRISMA guidelines and performed the systematic literature search using PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. A total of 32 articles were identified. Twenty-nine studies were performed in animal models and 3 studies were performed on human samples of AD. A total of 17 preclinical studies were included in the meta-analysis. Our analysis showed that lithium treatment has neuroprotective effects in diseases. Lithium treatment reduced amyloid-β and tau levels and significantly improved cognitive behavior in animal models of AD. Lithium increased the tyrosine hydroxylase levels and improved motor behavior in the PD model. Despite fewer clinical studies on these aspects, we evidenced the positive effects of lithium in AD patients. This study lends further support to the idea of lithium's therapeutic potential in neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monique Patricio Singulani
- Laboratory of Neuroscience LIM27, Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil; Centro de Neurociências Translacionais (CNT), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Biomarcadores em Neuropsiquiatria (INBioN), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana Flávia Fernandes Ferreira
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas da Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Iván Cuyul-Vásquez
- Departamento de Procesos Terapéuticos, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco, Chile; Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Chile
| | - Leda Leme Talib
- Laboratory of Neuroscience LIM27, Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil; Centro de Neurociências Translacionais (CNT), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Biomarcadores em Neuropsiquiatria (INBioN), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luiz Roberto Britto
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas da Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Orestes Vicente Forlenza
- Laboratory of Neuroscience LIM27, Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil; Centro de Neurociências Translacionais (CNT), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Biomarcadores em Neuropsiquiatria (INBioN), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, São Paulo, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lithium Prevents Telomere Shortening in Cortical Neurons in Amyloid-Beta Induced Toxicity. NEUROSCI 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/neurosci4010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: There is consistent evidence of the potential benefits of lithium attenuating mechanisms of neurodegeneration, including those related to the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and facilitating neurotrophic and protective responses, including maintenance of telomere length. The aim was to investigate the protective effect of the pre-treatment with lithium on amyloid-beta (Aβ)-induced toxicity and telomere length in neurons. Methods: Cortical neurons were treated with lithium chloride at therapeutic and subtherapeutic concentrations (2 mM, 0.2 mM and 0.02 mM) for seven days. Amyloid toxicity was induced 24 h before the end of lithium treatment. Results: Lithium resulted in 120% (2 mM), 180% (0.2 mM) and 140% (0.02 mM) increments in telomere length as compared to untreated controls. Incubation with Aβ1-42 was associated with significant reductions in MTT uptake (33%) and telomere length (83%) as compared to controls. Conclusions: Lithium prevented loss of culture viability and telomere shortening in neuronal cultures challenged with Aβ fibrils.
Collapse
|
4
|
Azam MS, Wahiduzzaman M, Reyad-Ul-Ferdous M, Islam MN, Roy M. Inhibition of Insulin Degrading Enzyme to Control Diabetes Mellitus and its Applications on some Other Chronic Disease: a Critical Review. Pharm Res 2022; 39:611-629. [PMID: 35378698 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-022-03237-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This review aims to provide a precise perceptive of the insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) and its relationship to type 2 diabetes (T2D), Alzheimer's disease (AD), obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of the current study was to provide clear idea of treating prevalent diseases such as T2D, and AD by molecular pharmacological therapeutics rather than conventional medicinal therapy. METHODS To achieve the aims, molecular docking was performed using several softwares such as LIGPLOT+, Python, and Protein-Ligand Interaction Profiler with corresponding tools. RESULTS The IDE is a large zinc-metalloprotease that breakdown numerous pathophysiologically important extracellular substrates, comprising amyloid β-protein (Aβ) and insulin. Recent studies demonstrated that dysregulation of IDE leads to develop AD and T2D. Specifically, IDE regulates circulating insulin in a variety of organs via a degradation-dependent clearance mechanism. IDE is unique because it was subjected to allosteric activation and mediated via an oligomer structure. CONCLUSION In this review, we summarised the factors that modulate insulin reformation by IDE and interaction of IDE and some recent reports on IDE inhibitors against AD and T2D. We also highlighted the latest signs of progress of the function of IDE and challenges in advancing IDE- targetted therapies against T2D and AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Md Shofiul Azam
- Department of Chemical and Food Engineering, Dhaka University of Engineering & Technology, Gazipur, 1707, Bangladesh.
| | - Md Wahiduzzaman
- Bio-Med Big Data Center, CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Md Reyad-Ul-Ferdous
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong Provincial Hospital affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Md Nahidul Islam
- Department of Agro-Processing, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, 1706, Bangladesh
| | - Mukta Roy
- Department of Food Engineering and Tea Technology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, 3114, Bangladesh
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
De-Paula VJ, Forlenza OV. Lithium modulates multiple tau kinases with distinct effects in cortical and hippocampal neurons according to concentration ranges. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 2021; 395:105-113. [PMID: 34751792 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-021-02171-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The hyperphosphorylation of tau is a central mechanism in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Lithium is a potent inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK3β), the most important tau kinase in neurons, and may also affect tau phosphorylation by modifying the expression and/or activity of other kinases, such as protein kinase A (PKA), Akt (PKB), and calcium calmodulin kinase-II (CaMKII). The aim of the present study is to determine the effect of chronic lithium treatment on the protein expression of tau and its major kinases in cortical and hippocampal neurons, at distinct working concentrations. Primary cultures of cortical and hippocampal neurons were treated with sub-therapeutic (0.02 mM and 0.2 mM) and therapeutic (2 mM) concentrations of lithium for 7 days. Protein expression of tau and tau-kinases was determined by immunoblotting. An indirect estimate of GSK3β activity was determined by the GSK3β ratio (rGSKβ). Statistically significant increments in the protein expression of tau and CaMKII were observed both in cortical and hippocampal neurons treated with subtherapeutic doses of lithium. GSK3β activity was increased in cortical, but decreased in hippocampal neurons. Distinct patterns of changes in the expression of the remaining tau tau-kinases were observed: in cortical neurons, lithium treatment was associated with consistent decrements in Akt and PKA, whereas hippocampal neurons displayed increased protein expression of Akt and decreased PKA. Our results suggest that chronic lithium treatment may yield distinct biological effects depending on the concentration range, with regional specificity. We further suggest that hippocampal neurons may be more sensitive to the effect of lithium, presenting with changes in the expression of tau-related proteins at subtherapeutic doses, which may not be mirrored by the effects observed in cortical neurons.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V J De-Paula
- Laboratório de Neurociências (LIM-27), Departamento E Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
- Laboratório de Psicobiologia (LIM-23), Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP, Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos 785, São Paulo, SP, 05403-903, Brazil.
| | - O V Forlenza
- Laboratório de Neurociências (LIM-27), Departamento E Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Litovchenko AV, Zabrodskaya YM, Sitovskaya DA, Khuzhakhmetova LK, Nezdorovina VG, Bazhanova ED. Markers of Neuroinflammation and Apoptosis in the Temporal Lobe of Patients with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy. J EVOL BIOCHEM PHYS+ 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s0022093021050069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Current antiepileptic strategies aim to normalize the interaction
of the excitatory and inhibitory systems, which is ineffective in
treating patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. Neuroinflammatory processes
in the epileptic focus and its perifocal area can trigger apoptosis
and also contribute to the development of drug resistance. The level
of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins (p-NF-kB, TNF-α, p53, FAS, caspase-3,
caspase-9) was analyzed in intraoperative biopsies of the temporal
lobe gray and white matter in the brain of patients with drug-resistant
epilepsy. An increased level of pro-apoptotic proteins was revealed
in the cortex and perifocal area’s white matter against the background
of an imbalance of protective anti-apoptotic proteins. It appears
that the activation of the extrinsic pathway of apoptosis occurs
in the perifocal area, while in the epileptic focus, there are proteins
responsible for the activation of the anti-apoptotic survival pathways.
Active neuroinflammation in the epileptic focus and perifocal area
of the temporal lobe may contribute to the development of the resistance
to antiepileptic drugs and the progression of neurodegeneration in
such patients.
Collapse
|
7
|
Singulani MP, De Paula VJR, Forlenza OV. Mitochondrial dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease: Therapeutic implications of lithium. Neurosci Lett 2021; 760:136078. [PMID: 34161823 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases, characterized by the accumulation of abnormal tau proteins within neurons and amyloid plaques in the brain parenchyma, which leads to progressive loss of neurons in the brain. While the detailed mechanism of the pathogenesis of AD is still unknown, evidence suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction likely plays a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of this disease. Due to the relevance of mitochondrial alterations in AD, recent works have suggested the therapeutic potential of mitochondrial-targeted lithium. Lithium has been shown to possess neuroprotective and neurotrophic properties that could also be related to the upregulation of mitochondrial function. In the current work, we perform a comprehensive investigation of the significance of mitochondrial dysfunction in AD and pharmacological treatment with lithium as imperative in this pathology, through a brief review of the major findings on the effects of lithium as a therapeutic approach targeting mitochondria in the context of AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monique P Singulani
- Laboratory of Neurosciences - LIM27, Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vanessa J R De Paula
- Laboratory of Neurosciences - LIM27, Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Orestes V Forlenza
- Laboratory of Neurosciences - LIM27, Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|