Figure 1

Lithium ions reduce IGFBP-1 gene expression. H4IIE cells were starved overnight prior to a 3 h incubation with insulin,10 nM; lithium chloride or potassium chloride at the concentrations indicated with or without dexamethasone, 500 nM; (A-B). Total cellular RNA was isolated and an RNase protection assay was performed as described in material and methods. Results are presented as percentage gene expression (A) or fold induction (B) relative to control and are means ± standard error of two experiments performed in duplicate (upper panels). Representative experiments (lower panels) are also shown. ***, p < 0.001, **, p < 0.01 and NS, not significant