Influence of lithium in neuron-glia interaction in hippocampal neurons

• Grant number: 18/08621-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2018
• End date: April 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Psychiatry
• Principal Investigator: Vanessa de Jesus Rodrigues de Paula
• Grantee: Nicole Kemberly Ribeiro Rocha
• Host Institution: Instituto de Psiquiatria Doutor Antonio Carlos Pacheco e Silva (IPq). Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP (HCFMUSP). Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Recently, special attention has been given to the possible neuroprotective effects of lithium, especially by the discovery of its regulatory effects on pro and anti-apoptotic proteins. Lithium substantially increases the cytoprotective proteins expression in the central nervous system, both in rat cortex and in human cells of neuronal origin. In addition to neuroprotective actions, it aids in the regeneration of axons in the central nervous system of mammals. Lithium negatively regulates the expression and activity of enzymes that exert important functions in cerebral homeostasis, regulating glycogen synthesis under the influence of the insulin cascade beside the cytoskeleton remodeling (synaptic plasticity, neurogenesis, and phosphorylation of tau protein). Microglia is known for its importance in neuropathologies. However, under physiological conditions, such immune cells interact actively with neurons, being able to modulate the fate and functions of the synapses. Such ability of microglial cells suggests the consequences of changes in microglial phenotype under pathological conditions, which makes it relevant to understand the interaction between microglial and other developing brain cells and their influence on the formation of neuronal and synaptic networks. The current work aims to identify the main pathway of neuronal-glia integration activated by chronic treatment with lithium in neurons, exploring the use of bioinformatics tools in microarray data.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ROCHA, NICOLE KEMBERLY R.; THEMOTEO, RAFAEL; BRENTANI, HELENA; FORLENZA, ORESTES V.; DE PAULA, VANESSA DE JESUS RODRIGUES. Neuronal-Glial Interaction in a Triple-Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease: Gene Ontology and Lithium Pathways. FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE, v. 14, DEC 1 2020. (17/14418-8, 11/19892-3, 16/01302-9, 09/52825-8, 18/08621-8, 14/50873-3)