Decline in cholesteryl ester hydrolase activity of rat brain with progress of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis followed by rebound during recovery.
Cholesteryl ester hydrolase and cholesteryl esters were measured in brain homogenates from rats in various stages of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model for multiple sclerosis, and in age-matched controls. Cholesteryl esters were elevated approximately 280-507% in EAE rats with clinical indices of 1-3, corresponding to increasing severity of symptoms, but were not significantly different from controls upon disappearance of symptoms during the recovery period (stage = R2). Cholesteryl ester hydrolase declined progressively 12-34% during stages 1-3, rebounded to a level 16% greater than controls during the initial stage of recovery (R1) and remained significantly elevated by 6% over controls upon disappearance of symptoms (R2). A highly significant (P less than 0.001) correlation of reduction in cholesteryl ester hydrolase activity with clinical index was confirmed by linear regression analysis (R = 0.91). It is concluded that a decline in cholesteryl ester hydrolase activity is an early event in EAE which leads to accumulation of cholesteryl esters and may play a role in induction and progression of this demyelinating disorder.
Ghosh
S
S
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298-0614.
Grogan
W M
WM
D000818:Animals; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D002787:Sterol Esterase / Q000378:metabolism*
D002787:Sterol Esterase