title: The protective effect of berberine against neuronal damage by inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase-9 and laminin degradation in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to assess the protective effect of berberine against neuronal damage in the brain parenchyma of mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).
  
  
  METHODS
  EAE was induced in female C57 BL/6 mice with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 35-55 amino acid peptide. The berberine treatment was initiated on the day of disease onset and administered daily until the mice were sacrificed. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, gelatin gel, and gelatin in situ zymography were analysed in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Berberine reduced the TUNEL-positive neuronal cells of EAE mice. Gelatin gel and gelatin in situ zymography showed up-regulation of gelatinase activity, which was mainly located in neurons and colocalized with remarkable laminin degradation in EAE mice. Berberine significantly inhibited gelatinase activity and reduced the laminin degradation in EAE mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that berberine could provide protection against neuronal damage in EAE by inhibiting gelatinase activity and reducing laminin degradation. These findings provide further support that berberine can be a potential therapeutic agent for multiple sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Aiming
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Cansheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Rongbiao
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pi
authors.forename: Shaoqiong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yingying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Dongliang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Xiaohong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007797:Laminin / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007797:Laminin; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D001599:Berberine; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9