The “In Vitro” Effects of Lithium on the Immune System

Abstract

This study has examined the “in vitro” effects of Lithium Carbonate on the immune system at low (10^-3, 10^-2mM) and therapeutic (0.5–1.5 mM) concentrations. Lithium, in the presence of a range of mitogens, was found to increase the incorporation of ³H-thymidine into peripheral blood mononuclear (PBM) cells. At concentrations > 1 mM IL2 production was also enhanced. Lithium was also found to increase IgG and IgM production - an estimate of B cell function, the effects being greatest at concentrations within the therapeutic range. However at these levels Lithium inhibited cAMP production.

Whether Lithium acts individually on these processes or whether one reaction is merely the result of another is unclear at present.

Key Words:

• Peripheral blood mononuclear cells
• Interleukin 2
• cAMP
• B cell function
• T cell function.