Differential display of mRNA was used to identify concordant changes in gene expression induced by two mood-stabilizing agents, lithium and valproate (VPA). Both treatments, on chronic administration, increased mRNA levels of the transcription factor polyomavirus enhancer-binding protein (PEBP) 2␤ in frontal cortex (FCx). Both treatments also increased the DNA binding activity of PEBP2␣␤ and robustly increased the levels of bcl-2 (known to be transcriptionally regulated by PEBP2) in FCx. Immunohistochemical studies revealed a marked increase in the number of bcl-2-immunoreactive cells in layers 2 and 3 of FCx. These novel findings represent the first report of medication-induced increases in CNS bcl-2 levels and may have implications not only for mood disorders, but also for long-term treatment of various neurodegenerative disorders. Key Words: Lithium-Valproate-Bcl-2-Manicdepressive illness-Transcription factors-Polyomavirus enhancer-binding protein 2-Differential display.

The mood-stabilizing agents lithium and valproic acid (VPA) increase DNA binding activity and transactivation activity of AP-1 transcription factors, as well as the expression of genes regulated by AP-1, in cultured cells and brain regions involved in mood regulation. In the present study, we found that VPA activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), a kinase known to regulate AP-1 function and utilized by neurotrophins to mediate their diverse effects, including neuronal differentiation, neuronal survival, long term neuroplasticity, and potentially learning and memory. VPA-induced activation of ERK was blocked by the mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK kinase inhibitor PD098059 and dominant-negative Ras and Raf mutants but not by dominant-negative stress-activated protein kinase/ERK kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 mutants. VPA also increased the expression of genes regulated by the ERK pathway, including growth coneassociated protein 43 and Bcl-2, promoted neurite growth and cell survival, and enhanced norepinephrine uptake and release. These data demonstrate that VPA is an ERK pathway activator and produces neurotrophic effects.

Valproic acid (VPA) is a potent broad-spectrum anti-epileptic with demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of bipolar affective disorder. It has previously been demonstrated that both VPA and lithium increase activator protein-1 (AP-1) DNA binding activity, but the mechanisms underlying these effects have not been elucidated. However, it is known that phosphorylation of c-jun by glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3beta inhibits AP-1 DNA binding activity, and lithium has recently been demonstrated to inhibit GSK-3beta. These results suggest that lithium may increase AP-1 DNA binding activity by inhibiting GSK-3beta. In the present study, we sought to determine if VPA, like lithium, regulates GSK-3. We have found that VPA concentration-dependently inhibits both GSK-3alpha and -3beta, with significant effects observed at concentrations of VPA similar to those attained clinically. Incubation of intact human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells with VPA results in an increase in the subsequent in vitro recombinant GSK-3beta-mediated 32P incorporation into two putative GSK-3 substrates (approximately 85 and 200 kDa), compatible with inhibition of endogenous GSK-3beta by VPA. Consistent with GSK-3beta inhibition, incubation of SH-SY5Y cells with VPA results in a significant time-dependent increase in both cytosolic and nuclear beta-catenin levels. GSK-3beta plays a critical role in the CNS by regulating various cytoskeletal processes as well as long-term nuclear events and is a common target for both lithium and VPA; inhibition of GSK-3beta in the CNS may thus underlie some of the long-term therapeutic effects of mood-stabilizing agents.

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Activation of pregnane X receptor (PXR), a nuclear receptor that controls xenobiotic and endobiotic metabolism, is known to induce liver enlargement, but the molecular signals and the cell types responding to PXR-induced hepatomegaly remain unknown. In this study, the effect of PXR activation on liver enlargement and cell change was evaluated in several strains of genetically-modified mice and animal models. Lineage labelling using AAV-Tbg-Cre-treated Rosa26 mice or Sox9-Cre , Rosa26 mice was performed and Pxr-null mice or AAV Yap shRNA-treated mice were used to confirm the role of PXR or YAP. Treatment with selective PXR activators induced liver enlargement and accelerated regeneration in wild-type and PXR-humanized mice but not in Pxr-null mice by increase of cell size, induction of a regenerative hybrid hepatocyte (HybHP) reprogramming, and promotion of hepatocyte and HybHP proliferation. Mechanistically, PXR interacted with yes-associated protein (YAP) and PXR activation induced nuclear translocation of YAP. Blockade of YAP abolished PXR-induced liver enlargement in mice. These findings revealed a novel function of PXR in enlarging liver size and changing liver cell fate via activation of the YAP signalling pathway. These results have implications for understanding the physiological functions of PXR and suggest the potential for manipulation of liver size and liver cell fate. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.