title: Amelioration of experimental allergic encephalitis (EAE) through phase 2 enzyme induction.
abstract: The multiple sclerosis (MS) lesion is characterized by an inflammatory cell mediated attack on white matter. Oxidative stress appears to play a role in the onset and progression of MS. We reasoned that decreasing oxidative stress might ameliorate MS. One way of decreasing oxidative stress is to induce phase 2 enzymes. The model chosen to test this hypothesis was experimental allergenic encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced in the Lewis rat. The 26 animals were placed into two groups: 1) those on normal rat chow, 2) those on rat chow containing 250 mumoles t-butylhydroxyanisole (BHA)/kg. After 2 weeks, animals were administered 100 micrograms guinea pig myelin basic protein and examined daily in a blinded fashion. Twenty-nine days later, animals were sacrificed, blood collected for glutathione (GSH) measurements and tissues collected for histology. Six of the 13 control chow animals developed hindlimb weakness or paralysis while 5 developed tail weakness only. Only 1 BHA fed animal exhibited symptoms--hindlimb weakness. Clinical symptoms correlated well with the extent of perivascular lymphocyte infiltration. Animals with BHA in the diet had 20% higher red cell GSH indicting induction of phase 2 enzymes. We conclude that dietary phase 2 enzyme inducers should be examined for their ability to ameliorate MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Avila
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schültke
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kamencic
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Skihar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Obayan
authors.forename: B H J
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Juurlink
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002083:Butylated Hydroxyanisole / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000201:enzymology*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002083:Butylated Hydroxyanisole; D005978:Glutathione