Ziskind-Somerfeld Research Award. Protein kinase C signaling in the brain: molecular transduction of mood stabilization in the treatment of manic-depressive illness.
Understanding the biology of the pharmacological stabilization of mood will undoubtedly serve to provide significant insight into the pathophysiology of manic-depressive illness (MDI). Accumulating evidence from our laboratories and those of other researchers has identified the family of protein kinase C isozymes as a shared target in the brain for the long-term action of both lithium and valproate. In rats chronically treated with lithium, there is a reduction in the hippocampus of the expression of two protein kinase isozymes, alpha and epsilon, as well as a reduction in the expression of a major PKC substrate, MARCKS, which has been implicated in long-term neuroplastic events in the developing and adult brain. In addition, we have been investigating the down-stream impact of these mood stabilizers on another kinase system, GSK-3 beta and on the AP-1 family of transcription factors. Further studies have generated promising preliminary data in support of the antimanic action of tamoxifen, and antiestrogen that is also a PKC inhibitor. Future studies must address the therapeutic relevance of these protein targets in the brain using innovative strategies in both animal and clinical investigations to ultimately create opportunities for the discovery of the next generations of mood stabilizers for the treatment of MDI.
Manji
H K
HK
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA.
Lenox
R H
RH
D000818:Animals; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001363:Awards and Prizes; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020536:Enzyme Activators / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012106:Research; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D018692:Antimanic Agents; D020536:Enzyme Activators; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D014635:Valproic Acid; D008094:Lithium; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3