lithium-chloride and beryllium-sulfate

Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) is a key regulator in signaling networks that control cell proliferation, metabolism, development, and other processes. Lithium chloride is a GSK-3 family inhibitor that has been a mainstay of in vitro and in vivo studies for many years. Beryllium salt has the potential to act as a lithium-like inhibitor of GSK-3, but it is not known whether this agent is effective under physiologically relevant conditions. Here we show that BeSO4 inhibits endogenous GSK-3β in cultured human cells. Exposure to 10 µM Be(2+) produced a decrease in GSK-3β kinase activity that was comparable to that produced by 10 mM Li(+), indicating that beryllium is about 1,000-fold more potent than the classical inhibitor when treating intact cells. There was a statistically significant dose-dependent reduction in specific activity of GSK-3β immunoprecipitated from cells that had been treated with either agent. Lithium inhibited GSK-3β kinase activity directly, and it also caused GSK-3β in cells to become phosphorylated at serine-9 (Ser-9), a post-translational modification that occurs as part of a well-known positive feedback loop that suppresses the kinase activity. Beryllium also inhibited the kinase directly, but unlike lithium it had little effect on Ser-9 phosphorylation in the cell types tested, suggesting that alternative modes of feedback inhibition may be elicited by this agent. These results indicate that beryllium, like lithium, can induce perturbations in the GSK-3β signaling network of treated cells.

Topics: Beryllium; Cell Line; Cell Line, Tumor; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Fibroblasts; Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer; Glioblastoma; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; Humans; Lithium Chloride; Phosphorylation; Phosphoserine; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Recombinant Proteins; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger

Antibody isotype affects biological activity of the antibodies and therefore should be considered in prevention of disease by vaccination. In previous reports, we demonstrated that adjuvants affect the antibody isotype switching process and favour the production of certain isotypes. The present study extends these findings and shows fundamental differences in the cytokine induction pattern according to the adjuvant used. Cytokine mRNA levels were determined by in situ RNA-RNA hybridization performed on splenocytes isolated from mice injected with different adjuvants. The results revealed that Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA), Freund's incomplete adjuvant (FIA), Al(OH)3 and QuilA administration results in a type-2 (humoral) response, increasing IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 gene expression, while poly I:C exhibits a type-1 (cell-mediated) response, increasing the production of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), IL-2 and IL-6 mRNA. Finally, BeSO4 and poly A:U augment IL-5 and IL-6 mRNA production, while lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and LiCl augment IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) mRNA production. Also, the adjuvants appear capable of overcoming the inherent IL-2/IFN-gamma and IL-4 dichotomy of C57B1/6 and BALB/c mice, respectively, in response to cellular antigens such as Leishmania and herpes simplex virus (HSV). The overall data suggest that adjuvants direct the isotype switching process via induction of certain cytokines, a finding that can be useful in selection of the most efficient isotype of protective antibodies for disease prevention by vaccination.

Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Aluminum Hydroxide; Animals; Beryllium; Cells, Cultured; Cytokines; Female; Freund's Adjuvant; Gene Expression Regulation; Immunohistochemistry; In Situ Hybridization; Interferon Inducers; Interferon-gamma; Interleukins; Lipopolysaccharides; Lithium Chloride; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Poly A-U; Poly I-C; Quillaja Saponins; RNA, Messenger; Saponins; Spleen; Th1 Cells; Th2 Cells; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha