Lithium protects against oxidative stress-mediated cell death in α-synuclein-overexpressing in vitro and in vivo models of Parkinson's disease

• Published in: Journal of neuroscience research Vol. 89; no. 10; pp. 1666 - 1675
• Main Authors: Kim, Yong-Hwan, Rane, Anand, Lussier, Stephanie, Andersen, Julie K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.10.2011
• Subjects: alpha-Synuclein - biosynthesis; alpha-Synuclein - genetics; Animals; Antiparkinson Agents - pharmacology; Cell Death - drug effects; Cell Death - physiology; Cell Line; cytoprotection; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Lithium Compounds - pharmacology; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; neurodegeneration; Neuroprotective Agents - pharmacology; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Oxidative Stress - genetics; oxidized/nitrated synuclein; Parkinsonian Disorders - drug therapy; Parkinsonian Disorders - genetics; Parkinsonian Disorders - metabolism; protein accumulation
• ISSN: 0360-4012; 1097-4547
• DOI: 10.1002/jnr.22700

Lithium has recently been suggested to have neuroprotective properties in relation to several neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we examined the potential cytoprotective effect of lithium in preventing oxidative stress‐induced protein accumulation and neuronal cell death in the presence of increased α‐synuclein levels in vitro and in vivo. Specifically, lithium administration was found to protect against cell death in a hydrogen peroxide‐treated, stable α‐synuclein‐enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)‐overexpressing dopaminergic N27 cell line. Lithium feeding (0.255% lithium chloride) of 9‐month‐old pan‐neuronal α‐synuclein transgenic mice over a 3‐month period was also sufficient to prevent accumulation of oxidized/nitrated α‐synuclein as a consequence of chronic paraquat/maneb administration in multiple brain regions, including the glomerular layer, mitral cells, and the granule cell layer of the olfactory bulb (OB), striatum, substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and Purkinje cells of the cerebellum. Lithium not only prevented α‐synuclein‐mediated protein accumulation/aggregation in these brain regions but also protected neuronal cells including mitral cells and dopaminergic SNpc neurons against oxidative stress‐induced neurodegeneration. These results suggest that lithium can prevent both α‐synuclein accumulation and neurodegeneration in an animal model of PD, suggesting that this drug, already FDA‐approved for use in bipolar disorder, may constitute a novel therapy for another human disease. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.