title: Huperzine A ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis via the suppression of T cell-mediated neuronal inflammation in mice.
abstract: Huperzine A (HupA), a sesquiterpene alkaloid and a potent and reversible inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase, possesses potential anti-inflammatory properties and is used for the treatment of certain neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. However, it is still unknown whether this chemical is beneficial in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, a progressive inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. In this study, we examined the immunomodulatory properties of HupA in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a T-cell mediated murine model of multiple sclerosis. The following results were obtained: (1) intraperitoneal injections of HupA significantly attenuate the neurological severity of EAE in mice. (2) HupA decreases the accumulation of inflammatory cells, autoimmune-related demyelination and axonal injury in the spinal cords of EAE mice. (3) HupA down-regulates mRNA levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-17) and chemokines (MCP-1, RANTES, and TWEAK) while enhancing levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) in the spinal cords of EAE mice. (4) HupA inhibits MOG(35-55) stimulation-induced T-cell proliferation and IFN-γ and IL-17 secretion in cultured splenocytes. (5) HupA inhibition of T-cell proliferation is reversed by the nicotinic acetylcholinergic receptor antagonist mecamylamine. We conclude that HupA can ameliorate EAE by suppressing autoimmune responses, inflammatory reactions, subsequent demyelination and axonal injury in the spinal cord. Therefore, HupA may have a potential therapeutic value for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and as a neuroimmunomodulatory drug to control human CNS pathology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Shanghai Medical College, Institute of Acupuncture Research, WHO Collaborating Center for Traditional Medicine, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. jwangf@shmu.edu.cn
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Weijuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Ruochen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wenjun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yanqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Gencheng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000379:methods; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009187:Myelitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C050426:huperzine A