title: Lithium Ameliorates LPS-Induced Astrocytes Activation Partly via Inhibition of Toll-Like Receptor 4 Expression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Astrocytes are critical for the development of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). In addition, astrocytes express toll-like receptors 4 (TLR4) and build up responses to innate immune triggers by releasing pro-inflammatory molecules. The pathogenesis of neurological disorders often involves the activation of astrocytes and associated inflammatory processes. Lithium, a primary drug for the treatment of bipolar disorder, has recently been suggested to have a role in neuroprotection during neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether lithium can ameliorate LPS-induced astrocytes activation via inhibition of TLR4 expression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary astrocytes cells were pretreated with lithium and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Cellular activation, cytokine production, and TLR4 expression, were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lithium significantly inhibited LPS-induced astrocytes activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production, as well as LPS-induced TLR4 expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lithium can inhibit LPS-induced TLR4 expression and astrocytes activation. These results indicate that lithium plays an important role in astrocytes activation and neuroinflammation-related diseases, which may open new avenues for neuroscience and biomedical research, and also offers new insight into the treatment of POCD.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors: Nana
authors: N
authors: Li
authors: Xiang
authors: X
authors: Zhang
authors: Hongquan
authors: H
authors: Dong
authors: Susu
authors: S
authors: Zhang
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Sun
authors: Yanning
authors: Y
authors: Qian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology*; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D008094:Lithium