A physical perspective on lithium therapy

IF 3.2 3区生物学 Q2 BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Progress in Biophysics & Molecular Biology Pub Date : 2024-11-14 DOI:10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2024.11.002

Dana Kamp

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Abstract

Lithium salts have strong medical properties in neurological disorders such as bipolar disorder and lithium-responsive headaches. They have recently gathered attention due to their potential preventive effect in viral infections. Though the therapeutic effect of lithium was documented by Cade in the late 1940s, its underlying mechanism of action is still disputed. Acute lithium exposure has an activating effect on excitable organic tissue and organisms, and is highly toxic. Lithium exposure is associated with a strong metabolic response in the organism, with large changes in phospholipid and cholesterol expression. Opposite to acute exposure, this metabolic response alleviates excessive cellular activity. The presence of lithium ions strongly affects lipid conformation and membrane phase unlike other alkali ions, with consequences for membrane permeability, buffer property and excitability. This review investigates how lithium ions affect lipid membrane composition and function, and how lithium response might in fact be the body’s attempt to counteract the physical presence of lithium ions at cell level. Ideas for further research in microbiology and drug development are discussed.

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从物理角度看锂疗法

锂盐对神经系统疾病，如躁郁症和锂反应性头痛有很强的医疗作用（Pereira da Silva Neto 和 James Almeida，2010 年；Lindner 等人，2023 年；Silva-Néto 等人，2019 年）。最近，它们因其对病毒感染的潜在预防作用而备受关注（Ferensztajn-Rochowiak 和 Rybakowski，2023；Rybakowski，2022）。虽然锂的治疗效果在 20 世纪 40 年代末就由 Cade 记录在案，但其基本作用机制仍存在争议（Malhi 和 Outhred，2016 年）。急性锂暴露对可兴奋的有机组织和生物体有激活作用，毒性很强（Schou，1957 年；Butler-Munro 等人，2010 年；Izsak 等人，2021 年；Yip 和 Yeung，2007 年）。接触锂会对机体产生强烈的新陈代谢反应，磷脂和胆固醇的表达发生巨大变化（López-Corcuera 等人，1988 年；Pettegrew 等人，2001 年；Aliyazicioğlu 等人，2007 年）。与急性接触相反，这种新陈代谢反应会减轻细胞的过度活动（Mertens 等人，2015 年；Stern 等人，2018 年；Santos 等人，2021 年）。与其他碱离子不同，锂离子的存在会强烈影响脂质构象和膜相（Hauser 和 Shipley，1983 年），从而对膜的通透性、缓冲特性和兴奋性产生影响。这篇综述探讨了锂离子如何影响脂膜的组成和功能，以及锂反应实际上是人体如何试图在细胞水平抵消锂离子的物理存在。文章还讨论了在微生物学和药物开发方面开展进一步研究的思路。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Progress in Biophysics & Molecular Biology 生物-生化与分子生物学

CiteScore

8.60

自引率

7.90%

发文量

审稿时长

85 days

期刊介绍： Progress in Biophysics & Molecular Biology is an international review journal and covers the ground between the physical and biological sciences since its launch in 1950. It indicates to the physicist the great variety of unsolved problems awaiting attention in biology and medicine. The biologist and biochemist will find that this journal presents new and stimulating ideas and novel approaches to studying and influencing structural and functional properties of the living organism. This journal will be of particular interest to biophysicists, biologists, biochemists, cell physiologists, systems biologists, and molecular biologists.