title: Lithium in Medicine: Mechanisms of Action.
abstract: In this chapter, we review the mechanism of action of lithium salts from a chemical perspective. A description on how lithium salts are used to treat mental illnesses, in particular bipolar disorder, and other disease states is provided. Emphasis is not placed on the genetics and the psychopharmacology of the ailments for which lithium salts have proven to be beneficial. Rather we highlight the application of chemical methodologies for the characterization of the cellular targets of lithium salts and their distribution in tissues.
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Loyola University Chicago, 1068 West Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL, 60660, USA. dfreita@luc.edu.
authors: Duarte
authors: D
authors: Mota de Freitas
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Loyola University Chicago, 1068 West Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL, 60660, USA. bleverson@luc.edu.
authors: Brian D
authors: BD
authors: Leverson
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Loyola University Chicago, 1068 West Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL, 60660, USA. jgoossens@luc.edu.
authors: Jesse L
authors: JL
authors: Goossens
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008094:Lithium
keywords: Bipolar disorder; Glycogen synthase kinase-3β; Lithium; Mechanisms of action