title: Brain protection conferred by long-term administration of 2-(2-benzofuranyl)-2-imidazoline against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
abstract: Our previous studies showed that 2-(2-benzofuranyl)-2-imidazoline (2-BFI), a ligand to type 2 imidazoline receptor, was protective against brain and spinal cord injury caused by experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). In the present study, we investigated the effect of long-term administration of 2-BFI and the dose-dependent response relationship of long-term administration of 2-BFI with neuroprotection. Treatment with 2-BFI at doses of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg for 14 days significantly reduced hind limb paralysis and the severity of EAE compared with the EAE control group. Long-term use of 2-BFI was not only safe to mice, but also dose-dependently reduced the expression of inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, Interferon-γ and Interleukin-17A, compared with the EAE control group. Expressions of neuronal injury markers, including cytochrome c, AIF and β-APP, were also reduced significantly in response to long-term 2-BFI treatment. Together, these results provided new evidence to demonstrate that 2-BFI is a safe and effective candidate for further development as a therapeutic drug for treatment of multiple sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital and Research Institute of Experimental Neurobiology of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ying-Biao
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Nian-Ge
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Yuan-Tao
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xin-Shi
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shan-Shan
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Wei-Yong
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Hui-Qin
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Sheng-Tao
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Rong-Yuan
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D007093:Imidazoles; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; C103723:2-(2-benzofuranyl)-2-imidazoline