title: TNF-alpha as a molecular target in bipolar disorder.
abstract: The pathophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD) is poorly understood. An emerging body of evidence points to impairments in neuroplasticity, cell resilience and neuronal survival as the main neuropathological correlates of BD. It has been suggested that inflammatory cytokines, particularly TNF-alpha may play a critical role in this process. In the present review we examine the evidence suggesting that TNF-alpha regulates apoptotic cascades which may be related to neuronal and glial loss in BD. Current evidence suggests that an increase in serum levels of TNF-alpha takes place during manic and depressive episodes. The present article reviews the therapeutic implications of TNF-alpha signaling pathways involvement in the pathophysiology of BD.
authors.affiliation: Bipolar Disorder Program and Molecular Psychiatry Unit, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brietzke
authors.forename: Flávio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kapczinski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018692:Antimanic Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D016328:NF-kappa B; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha