title: Antiapoptotic action of lithium and valproate.
abstract: Lithium and valproate (VPA) have been the most widely prescribed mood stabilizers for the therapy of bipolar disorders (BD) for more than 50 years. However, the precise molecular mechanism of their pharmacological activity is not fully known. Recent studies have suggested that both drugs exert antiapoptotic effects. This review focuses on the influence of lithium and VPA on intracellular apoptotic signaling pathways. The active sites, which are implicated in mediating their action, have been described. It has been found that both drugs block the key proapoptotic molecules (GSK-3beta, caspase cascades) and enhance survival pathways (ERK1/2 and Bax proteins). The potential significance of the reported antiapoptotic effects has been discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18, PL 40-752 Katowice Ligota, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bielecka
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Obuchowicz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D018020:Lithium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D018020:Lithium Compounds; D014635:Valproic Acid