Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology · Jul 8, 2020

Microdose Lithium Treatment Reduced Inflammatory Factors and Neurodegeneration in Organotypic Hippocampal Culture of Old SAMP-8 Mice

By Toricelli M, Evangelista SR, Buck HS et al.

It was already shown that microdoses of lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃) promoted memory stabilization in humans and mice. Prolonged treatment also reduced neuronal loss and increased the density of the neurotrophin BDNF in transgenic mice for Alzheimer's disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether lithium ions affect inflammatory profiles and neuronal integrity in an animal model of accelerated senescence (SAMP-8). Organotypic hippocampal cultures obtained from 11 to 12-month-old SAMP-8 mice were treated with 2 µM, 20 µM and 200 µM Li₂CO₃. 2 µM Li₂CO₃ promoted a significant reduction in propidium iodide uptake in the CA2 area of hippocampus, whereas 20 µM promoted neuroprotection in the CA3 and GrDG areas. 200 µM caused an increase in cellular death, showing toxicity. Measured with quantitative PCR, IL-1α, IL-6 and MIP-1B/CCL-4 gene expression was significantly reduced with 20 µM Li₂CO₃, whereas IL-10 gene expression was significantly increased with the same concentration. In addition, 2 µM and 20 µM Li₂CO₃ were also effective in reducing the activation of NFkB and inflammatory cytokines densities, as evaluated by ELISA. It is concluded that very low doses of Li₂CO₃ can play an important role in neuroprotection as it can reduce neuronal loss and neuroinflammation in older individuals.

doi.org/10.1007/s10571-020-00916-0PubMed 32642922Interventions