Brain-derived neurotrophic and immunologic factors: beneficial effects of riboflavin on motor disability in murine model of multiple sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
In the present study, C57BL/6 female mice (n=56) were used to explore the neuroprotective effects of riboflavin in motor disability of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) as a model of multiple sclerosis.


METHODS
The animals were assigned into 7 groups: sham-operated 1 (SO1), healthy mice receiving PBS (phosphate buffer saline); sham-operated 2 (SO2), healthy mice receiving PBS and riboflavin; sham treatment 1 (ST1), EAE mice receiving water; sham treatment 2 (ST2), EAE mice receiving sodium acetate buffer; treatment 1 (T1), EAE mice receiving interferon beta-1a (INFβ-1a); treatment 2 (T2), EAE mice receiving riboflavin; treatment 3 (T3), EAE mice receiving INFβ-1a and riboflavin. After EAE induction, scoring was performed based on clinical signs. Upon detecting score 0.5, riboflavin at 10 mg/kg of body weight and/or INFβ-1a at 150 IU/g of body weight administration was started for two weeks. The brain and spinal cord levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-17A (IL-17A) were studied using real-time PCR and ELISA methods.


RESULTS
BDNF expression and protein levels were increased in the brain and spinal cord of the T3 group compared with the other groups (P<0.01). IL-6 and IL-17A expressions were increased in the brains of the T3 and T1 groups, respectively, compared to the other groups (P<0.01). The daily clinical score was reduced significantly by riboflavin in both effector and chronic phases of the disease compared with that of the controls (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings showed that riboflavin is capable of suppressing the neurological disability mediated by BDNF and IL-6.
Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Khuzestan, Iran; Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Para-Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Khuzestan, Iran.
Mahshid
M
Naghashpour
Health Research Institute, Diabetes Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Khuzestan, Iran; Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Para-Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Khuzestan, Iran.
Reza
R
Amani
Physiology Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Khuzestan, Iran; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Khuzestan, Iran.
Alireza
A
Sarkaki
Cell and Molecular Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Khuzestan, Iran; Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Khuzestan, Iran.
Ata
A
Ghadiri
Infectious and Tropical Disease Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Khuzestan, Iran; Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Khuzestan, Iran.
Alireza
A
Samarbafzadeh
Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Khuzestan, Iran; Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Para-Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Khuzestan, Iran.
Sima
S
Jafarirad
Department of Vital Statistics, Faculty of Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Khuzestan, Iran.
Amal Saki
AS
Malehi
Brain-derived neurotrophic -factor; Experimental autoimmune -encephalomyelitis; Interleukin-17A; Interleukin-6; Motor disability; Riboflavin