title: An imbalance in the production of IL-1beta and IL-6 by monocytes of bipolar patients: restoration by lithium treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the ex vivo interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-6 production of monocytes in bipolar disorder (BD) patients in the absence/presence of lithium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Monocytes of outpatients with DSM-IV BD (n=80, of whom 64 were lithium-treated) and of healthy control subjects (n=59) were cultured in vitro and exposed (24 h) or not exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and/or graded concentrations of lithium chloride (LiCl). IL-1beta and IL-6 production was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (supernatants).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Monocytes stimulated by LPS from non-lithium-treated bipolar patients were characterized by an abnormal IL-1beta/IL-6 production ratio, i.e., low IL-1beta and high IL-6 production. Lithium treatment increased IL-1beta and decreased IL-6 production and thus restored the aberrant ratio. In vitro exposure of monocytes to LiCl did not have the same effects as lithium treatment: the procedure decreased IL-1beta production and had minimal effects on IL-6 production.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Blood monocytes have an altered proinflammatory status in BD. Lithium treatment restores this altered status. Short-term in vitro exposure of monocytes to lithium has other effects than lithium treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. e.knijff@erasmusmc.nl
authors.forename: Esther M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Knijff
authors.forename: M Nadine
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Breunis
authors.forename: Ralph W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Kupka
authors.forename: Harm J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: de Wit
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ruwhof
authors.forename: Grard W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Akkerhuis
authors.forename: Willem A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Nolen
authors.forename: Hemmo A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Drexhage
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D018021:Lithium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D018020:Lithium Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D018020:Lithium Compounds; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D018021:Lithium Chloride