title: FK506 and a nonimmunosuppressant derivative reduce axonal and myelin damage in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis: neuroimmunophilin ligand-mediated neuroprotection in a model of multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) in which demyelination and axonal loss result in permanent neurologic disability. We examined the neuroprotective property of the immunosuppressant FK506 (tacrolimus), FK1706 (a nonimmunosuppressant FK506 derivative) and cyclosporin A (CsA) in a chronic relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of MS. Female SJL/J mice were immunized by subcutaneous (s.c.) injection with proteolipid protein 139-151 peptide in complete Freund's adjuvant. At the onset of paralysis, 12-14 days after immunization, mice received daily s.c. injections of FK506 (0.2, 1, and 5 mg/kg), FK1706 (5 mg/kg), CsA (2, 10, and 50 mg/kg), saline or vehicle (30% dimethylsulfoxide) for 30 days. FK506 (at a dose of 5 mg/kg) reduced the severity of the initial disease and suppressed relapses. FK1706 did not significantly alter the clinical course and CsA (at a dose of 50 mg/kg) lessened the severity of the initial episode of EAE but did not alter relapses. In the thoracic spinal cord, FK506 (5 mg/kg), FK1706 (5 mg/kg), and CsA (50 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.001) reduced the extent of damage in the dorsal, lateral, and ventral white matter by a mean of up to 95, 68, and 30%, respectively. A nonimmunosuppressant dose of FK506 (0.2 mg/kg) also significantly (P < 0.001) reduced the extent of damage in the spinal cord by a mean of up to 45%. Other dosages of these compounds were ineffective. FK506 markedly protects against demyelination and axonal loss in this MS model through immunosuppression and neuroprotection.
authors.affiliation: Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology (CROET), Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239-3098, USA. gold@ohsu.edu
authors.forename: Bruce G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Voda
authors.forename: Xiaolin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McKeon
authors.forename: Dennis N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Bourdette
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D020104:Immunophilins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D020104:Immunophilins; D016559:Tacrolimus