title: Wnt and lithium: a common destiny in the therapy of nervous system pathologies?
abstract: Wnt signaling is required for neurogenesis, the fate of neural progenitors, the formation of neuronal circuits during development, neuron positioning and polarization, axon and dendrite development and finally for synaptogenesis. This signaling pathway is also implicated in the generation and differentiation of glial cells. In this review, we describe the mechanisms of action of Wnt signaling pathways and their implication in the development and correct functioning of the nervous system. We also illustrate how a dysregulated Wnt pathway could lead to psychiatric, neurodegenerative and demyelinating pathologies. Lithium, used for the treatment of bipolar disease, inhibits GSK3β, a central enzyme of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Thus, lithium could, to some extent, mimic Wnt pathway. We highlight the possible dialogue between lithium therapy and modulation of Wnt pathway in the treatment of the diseases of the nervous system.
authors.affiliation: UMR 8194 CNRS, University Paris Descartes, 45 rue des Saints-Pères, 75270, Paris Cedex 6, France.
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Meffre
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grenier
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Courtin
authors.forename: Todor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dudev
authors.forename: Ghjuvan'Ghjacumu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shackleford
authors.forename: Mehrnaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jafarian-Tehrani
authors.forename: Charbel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Massaad
mesh_terms: D016764:Cell Polarity; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009420:Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin; D008094:Lithium; C000605506:GSK3B protein, human; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3