title: The role of Wnt signaling and its interaction with diverse mechanisms of cellular apoptosis in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder.
abstract: The neurobiology of Bipolar Disorder (BD) is not completely understood, although abnormalities in neuroplasticity and control of apoptosis have been considered as central events in its pathophysiology. The molecules of the Wnt family comprise a class of proteins that control essential developmental processes such as embryonic patterning, cell growth, migration, and differentiation with their actions largely exerted by modulating gene transcription. The Wnt signaling pathway has interface with some mediators with a well documented action in neuroplasticity and regulation of cell surviving. In addition, mood stabilizers such as lithium and valproate may have their neuroprotective properties in part mediated by the Wnt pathway. This article is an overview of how the Wnt signaling cascade might be involved in the pathogenesis of BD and also in details of intracellular events related to this pathway. Further studies of Wnt signaling may lead to a better comprehension of the neuroprotective actions of mood stabilizers and contribute to improving the therapeutics of BD.
authors.affiliation: Bipolar Disorder Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. liwen@usp.br
authors.forename: Li Wen
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Elisa Mitiko
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Kawamoto
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brietzke
authors.forename: Cristóforo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scavone
authors.forename: Beny
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lafer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D051153:Wnt Proteins