VIP prevents experimental multiple sclerosis by downregulating both inflammatory and autoimmune components of the disease.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disabling inflammatory, autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Despite intensive investigation, the mechanisms of disease pathogenesis remain unclear, and curative therapies are unavailable for MS. The current study describes a new possible strategy for the treatment of MS, based on the administration of the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). Treatment with VIP significantly reduced incidence and severity of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an MS-related rodent model. VIP suppressed EAE neuropathology by reducing CNS inflammation and by selective blocking encephalitogenic T-cell reactivity, emerging as an attractive candidate for the treatment of human MS.
Fernandez-Martin
Amelia
A
Instituto de Parasitologia y Biomedicina, CSIC, Avd. Conocimiento, PT Ciencias de la Salud, Granada 18100, Spain.
Gonzalez-Rey
Elena
E
Chorny
Alejo
A
Martin
Javier
J
Pozo
David
D
Ganea
Doina
D
Delgado
Mario
M
D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D051379:Mice; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide