Effect of thalidomide and pentoxifylline on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).
BACKGROUND
Autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in Lewis rats is a classical experimental model of demyelinating inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. EAE is widely accepted for study of immune-inflammatory mechanisms in the CNS related to multiple sclerosis (MS) due to similar clinical evolution.


OBJECTIVE
In the present study we investigated the effects of Thalidomide and pentoxifylline during EAE development in Lewis rats.


METHODS
EAE was induced in Lewis rats and treatment with Thalidomide or pentoxifylline was performed. Clinical evaluation was carried out daily. Histopathological analysis of the brain tissue and spinal cord was performed. Griess method was used for determination of NO serum levels. TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma serum levels were investigated using ELISA method.


RESULTS
Thalidomide and pentoxifylline treatment is associated with significant reduction of neuroinflammation in CNS. Serum levels of NO, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha showed a marked reduction. Such findings were correlated with improvement of clinical symptoms, particularly in thalidomide treated rats.


CONCLUSIONS
Taken together the data suggested that thalidomide and pentoxifylline may be therapeutic options for the treatment of MS, however further experiments must be performed to investigate this hypothesis.
Corrêa
José Otávio do Amaral
JO
Fluminense Federal University, FCB, Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Aarestrup
Beatriz Julião Vieira
BJ
Aarestrup
Fernando Monteiro
FM
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D007700:Kinetics; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D013792:Thalidomide; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D010431:Pentoxifylline