title: Acamprosate modulates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This pilot study aimed to determine the efficacy of acamprosate (N-acetyl homotaurine) in reducing the pathological features of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) which is an animal model for multiple sclerosis (MS).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The amino acid taurine has multiple biological activities including immunomodulation and neuromodulation. The synthetic acetylated taurine derivative, acamprosate, which crosses the blood-brain barrier more readily compared to taurine, is currently being used for the prevention of alcohol withdrawal symptoms associated with enhanced glutamatergic receptor function and GABA receptor hypofunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  EAE was induced in C57BL/6 female mice with myelin oligodendrocyte glyocoprotein, amino acid 35-55. Mice were treated with 20, 100 and 500 mg/kg acamprosate for 21 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neurological scores at disease peak were reduced by 21, 64 and 9% in the 20, 100 and 500 mg/kg groups, respectively. Neurological improvement in the 100 mg/kg group correlated with a reduction in numbers of inflammatory lesions and the extent of CNS demyelination. Blood TNF-α levels were significantly reduced in the 500 mg/kg group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acamprosate and other taurine analogs have a potential for future MS therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Baird MS Center, Jacobs Neurological Institute, 100 High Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA. zs2@buffalo.edu
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sternberg
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cesario
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rittenhouse-Olson
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sobel
authors.forename: Yi-Kan
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pankewycz
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Whitcomb
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Sternberg
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Munschauer
mesh_terms: D000077443:Acamprosate; D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013654:Taurine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013654:Taurine; D000077443:Acamprosate
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