Bipolar Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Bipolar, including details on bipolar disorder, symptoms, treatment, depression, medication.

An imbalance in the production of IL-1beta and IL-6 by monocytes of bipolar patients: restoration by lithium treatment.

Knijff EM, Breunis MN, Kupka RW, de Wit HJ, Ruwhof C, Akkerhuis GW, Nolen WA, Drexhage HA

Departments of Immunology and Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Objectives: To study the ex vivo interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-6 production of monocytes in bipolar disorder (BD) patients in the absence/presence of lithium. Methods: Monocytes of outpatients with DSM-IV BD (n = 80, of whom 64 were lithium-treated) and of healthy control subjects (n = 59) were cultured in vitro and exposed (24 h) or not exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and/or graded concentrations of lithium chloride (LiCl). IL-1beta and IL-6 production was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (supernatants). Results: Monocytes stimulated by LPS from non-lithium-treated bipolar patients were characterized by an abnormal IL-1beta/IL-6 production ratio, i.e., low IL-1beta and high IL-6 production. Lithium treatment increased IL-1beta and decreased IL-6 production and thus restored the aberrant ratio. In vitro exposure of monocytes to LiCl did not have the same effects as lithium treatment: the procedure decreased IL-1beta production and had minimal effects on IL-6 production. Conclusions: Blood monocytes have an altered proinflammatory status in BD. Lithium treatment restores this altered status. Short-term in vitro exposure of monocytes to lithium has other effects than lithium treatment.

Published 8 November 2007 in Bipolar Disord, 9(7): 743-53.
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