title: Effective combination of minocycline and interferon-beta in a model of multiple sclerosis.
abstract: The objective of the current study was to investigate whether minocycline improves the effect of an existing multiple sclerosis (MS) medication, interferon-beta, on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mice. When used at sub-optimal doses, neither medication affected EAE but their combination at these doses led to the significant alleviation of EAE disease severity scores and histological outcomes. In culture, the toxicity of T cells to neurons was alleviated by their prior exposure to minocycline or interferon-beta and their combination further attenuated neuronal death. Collectively, these results suggest the utility of the combination of minocycline and interferon-beta in MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giuliani
authors.forename: Sue Anne
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Luanne M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Metz
authors.forename: V Wee
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Yong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death / Q000276:immunology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008911:Minocycline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D008911:Minocycline