Cytokine production in bipolar affective disorder patients under lithium treatment.
BACKGROUND
Our knowledge concerning immune functioning in bipolar affective disorder (BAD) is limited, while lithium's immunomodulatory effects seem multiple and conflicting. Our aim was to evaluate cytokine production and lithium's effect on it in BAD patients, using ELISPOT technique as a sensitive tool.


METHODS
Cytokine (IL-2, IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-gamma) production from isolated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) was evaluated (ELISPOT technique) in 40 euthymic BAD patients under chronic lithium treatment, in 20 healthy volunteers, and in 10 never medicated BAD patients before and after the introduction of lithium therapy. In all cases, cytokine plasma levels were also measured using ELISA.


RESULTS
BAD patients under chronic lithium treatment had significantly lower numbers of IL-2, IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-gamma secreting cells compared to healthy volunteers. The number of cytokine secreting cells decreased in never medicated patients after 3 months of lithium treatment. In vitro stimulation of PBLs with lithium did not affect the number of cytokine secreting cells either in the patients or in the healthy volunteers.


CONCLUSIONS
The significantly lower number of PBLs producing cytokines (IL-2, IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-gamma) in euthymic BAD patients under chronic lithium treatment result from the long-term (over 3 months) lithium administration. In vitro stimulation of PBLs with lithium did not change the number of cytokine producing cells. Our findings may be useful in elucidating possible downregulatory effects of lithium in humans.
Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, Medical School, National University of Athens, 72-74 Vasilissis Sophias Avenue, Athens 115 28, Greece. cnikol@cc.uoa.gr
Fotini
F
Boufidou
Chryssoula
C
Nikolaou
Basil
B
Alevizos
Ioannis A
IA
Liappas
George N
GN
Christodoulou
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D018021:Lithium Chloride / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008134:Long-Term Care; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D018692:Antimanic Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D002220:Carbamazepine; D014635:Valproic Acid; D018021:Lithium Chloride