Effects of Lithium and Valproic Acid on the Production of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Astrocytoma

Abstract

No systematic investigation considering BDNF and its receptor TrkB has been conducted on the effects of mood-stabilizing drugs. We therefore decided to quantify BDNF production and the expression of TrkB-T1 receptor and PLCγ in astrocytoma. 1321N human astrocytoma cells were grown to a sufficient quantity in 5% fetal calf serum (FCS). The mood-stabilizing drugs Li and VPA were added to the therapeutic concentrations of 1 mM and 600 μM, respectively. The production of BDNF was determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expressions of TrkB-T1 and PLCγ were determined by Western blot. The production of BDNF was significantly higher on Day 7 in the VPA samples (P < 0.05) and was significantly suppressed beginning on Day 1 in the Li samples (P < 0.05). TrkB-T1 expression, in contrast to BDNF production, was significantly higher in the VPA samples (P < 0.05) but did not change in the Li samples. PLCγ expression did not change. Li and VPA seem differently affect BDNF production and TrkB-T1 (BDNF receptor) expression.