title: Fluoxetine promotes remission in acute experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was carried out to clarify the effects of the antidepressant fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, for its potential use in autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis in a rat model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).
  
  
  METHODS
  The rat EAE model was induced by subcutaneous injection of guinea pig spinal cord homogenate. Rats received fluoxetine via daily intragastric administration, starting 2 weeks prior to immune induction (fluoxetine pretreatment). Clinical scores and pathological changes in EAE rats were analyzed. Changes in serum cytokine levels were assessed by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fluoxetine pretreatment significantly promoted remission in EAE. Histologically, fluoxetine-induced neuroprotection was accompanied by reductions in inflammatory foci and in the degree of demyelination in the spinal cord of EAE rats. The increase in serum IFN-γ in the EAE model was also suppressed by fluoxetine administration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that the prophylactic use of fluoxetine can relieve symptoms during remission in the acute EAE model, and these neuroprotective effects are associated with its anti-inflammatory effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Nanfang Hospital, Nanfang Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xi-qiu
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Guang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Xiao-jia
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yongming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xinyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Tianming
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012074:Remission Induction; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D005473:Fluoxetine; D007371:Interferon-gamma