Minocycline attenuates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in rats by reducing T cell infiltration into the spinal cord

J Neuroimmunol. 2010 Feb 26;219(1-2):33-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2009.11.009. Epub 2010 Jan 25.

Abstract

We investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of minocycline in EAE, an animal model of MS. Minocycline, administered for two weeks after the clinical onset, significantly decreased the cumulative and mean clinical scores of EAE. This was associated with the reduction of both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell numbers in the spinal cord and the downregulation of LFA-1 on T cells without affecting the cytokine production profile. The predominant cytokine produced by T cells in the spleen was IFN-gamma whereas in the CNS it was IL-17. Our results indicate that minocycline regulates T cell infiltration into the CNS without modifying the dominant cytokine production.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Concanavalin A / pharmacology
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / immunology
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / pathology*
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry / methods
  • Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / metabolism
  • Minocycline / pharmacology
  • Minocycline / therapeutic use*
  • Rats
  • Spinal Cord / metabolism
  • Spinal Cord / pathology*
  • Spinal Cord / physiopathology
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Cytokines
  • Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1
  • Concanavalin A
  • Minocycline