Lithium induces gene expression through lymphoid enhancer-binding factor/T-cell factor responsive element in rat PC12 cells

Neurosci Lett. 2002 Jan 4;317(1):50-2. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3940(01)02405-3.

Abstract

Lithium inhibits glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), which leads to an increase of cytoplasmic beta-catenin levels. In some cell types, but not in others, activated beta-catenin interacts with members of the lymphoid enhancer-binding factor (LEF)/T-cell factor (TCF) family of transcription factors and induces gene expression. Lithium effect on LEF/TCF-mediated gene expression has never been evaluated in cells with a neuronal phenotype. We have constructed a LEF/TCF-dependent luciferase reporter gene to investigate lithium effects on transcription in PC12 cells. In transiently transfected PC12 cells, lithium induced a time-dependent increase in LEF/TCF-mediated luciferase activity. These results are consistent with the known inhibitory effects of lithium on GSK-3 and represent the first demonstration that a LEF/TCF responsive element also mediates lithium-induced gene expression in PC12 cells.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimanic Agents / pharmacology
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / drug effects*
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / genetics
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Cell Size / drug effects
  • Cell Size / genetics
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / drug effects*
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / genetics
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / drug effects*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Depression / drug therapy
  • Depression / metabolism
  • Depression / physiopathology
  • Energy Metabolism / drug effects
  • Energy Metabolism / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinases
  • Lithium / metabolism*
  • Lithium Chloride / pharmacology
  • Luciferases / genetics
  • Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1
  • Neurons / drug effects*
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • PC12 Cells
  • Rats
  • Trans-Activators*
  • Transcription Factors / drug effects*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic / drug effects*
  • Transcription, Genetic / physiology
  • Transfection
  • beta Catenin

Substances

  • Antimanic Agents
  • Ctnnb1 protein, rat
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • beta Catenin
  • Lithium
  • Luciferases
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinases
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3
  • Lithium Chloride