The Effect of Lithium on Gene Expression Modulation

Abstract

Lithium has been shown to influence the expression of hundreds of genes. Through this regulation, lithium interferes with a large number of cellular functions, including inositol metabolism, circadian rhythms, apoptosis and those neuroprotective pathways that are thought to play a role in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder. The mechanisms through which lithium regulates gene expression are still not completely understood. However, converging data suggest that transcription factors and microRNAs, as well as epigenetic factors, may constitute key targets of lithium. In this chapter, we present and discuss the most compelling findings on lithium’s effects on gene expression modulation, emphasizing those studies carried out in patient-derived cell lines, as these have the potential to highlight genes that may constitute biomarkers of the clinical efficacy of lithium.