title: [Neurotrophic effects of lithium stimulate the reduction of ischemic and neurodegenerative brain damage].
abstract: For over 60 years, high doses of lithium (hundreds of milligrams of elemental lithium) have being used to treat bipolar disorder. However, only during the past 20 years the relevant basic and clinical studies have shown that neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects of lithium are possible in much smaller doses ( hundreds of micrograms of elemental lithium). These data indicate a significant potential for the clinical applications of lithium-based drugs in modern neurology for the purposes of prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative and ischemic pathologies. Pharmacological and molecular biology studies indicated that the inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-syntentase-3 (GSK-3) and induction of brain-derived neurotrophic factors are the main mechanisms of neurotropic actions of lithium. Also, by inhibiting the NMDA receptors, lithium regulates the calcium homeostasis and inhibits the activation of calcium-dependent apotosis. These and other molecular mechanisms of lithium action protect neurons from ischemia and neurodegeneration thus contributing to a significant reduction of neurological deficit in various models of stroke and neurodegenerative diseases.
authors.affiliation: Ivanovo State Medical Academy, Ivanovo, Russian Satellite Center, Trace Elements Institute for UNESCO, Moscow.
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Pronin
authors.affiliation: Ivanovo State Medical Academy, Ivanovo, Russian Satellite Center, Trace Elements Institute for UNESCO, Moscow.
authors.forename: I V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Gogoleva
authors.affiliation: Ivanovo State Medical Academy, Ivanovo, Russian Satellite Center, Trace Elements Institute for UNESCO, Moscow.
authors.forename: I Yu
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Torshin
authors.affiliation: Ivanovo State Medical Academy, Ivanovo, Russian Satellite Center, Trace Elements Institute for UNESCO, Moscow.
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Gromovа
mesh_terms: D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006801:Humans; D018020:Lithium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D018020:Lithium Compounds; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3