Lithium and T Cell Colonies

Abstract

In humans, therapeutic doses of Li [for manic depressive illness] causes granulocytosis and lymphopenia. In vitro increased numbers of [granulocyte/macrophage] colony forming units are observed. The effect of Li on lymphocyte colonies is unknown. T cell colonies grown from normal individuals and patients who were on Li only showed that T cell colony numbers were decreased in patients who were taking Li. Recent evidence suggests that there is a precursor common to the granulocytic and lymphocytic cell lines. Since Li causes increased granulocytic colonies and seems to decrease lymphocyte colonies, Li may have an effect on the precursor cell resulting in preferentially shifting maturation from the lymphocytic to the granulocytic series.