1. R-flurbiprofen attenuates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice
- Author
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Christine Altmann, Irmgard Tegeder, Natasja de Bruin, Annett Häussler, Michael J. Parnham, Alfred Ultsch, Katja Schmitz, Nerea Ferreirós, Jörn Lötsch, Philipp Bishay, Gerd Geisslinger, and Julia Männich
- Subjects
Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental ,Multiple Sclerosis ,Inflammation ,Pharmacology ,regulatory T cells ,Myelin ,Mice ,T-Lymphocyte Subsets ,medicine ,Animals ,pain ,IL-2 receptor ,endocannabinoids ,Research Articles ,optic neuritis ,Microglia ,business.industry ,Multiple sclerosis ,Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis ,Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ,FOXP3 ,Brain ,Optic Nerve ,medicine.disease ,musculoskeletal system ,Disease Models, Animal ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Treatment Outcome ,Flurbiprofen ,Spinal Cord ,Immunology ,Hyperalgesia ,Prostaglandins ,Molecular Medicine ,lipids (amino acids, peptides, and proteins) ,Female ,medicine.symptom ,business - Abstract
R‐flurbiprofen is the non‐cyclooxygenase inhibiting R‐enantiomer of the non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug flurbiprofen, which was assessed as a remedy for Alzheimer9s disease. Because of its anti‐inflammatory, endocannabinoid‐modulating and antioxidative properties, combined with low toxicity, the present study assessed R‐flurbiprofen in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) models of multiple sclerosis in mice. Oral R‐flurbiprofen prevented and attenuated primary progressive EAE in C57BL6/J mice and relapsing‐remitting EAE in SJL mice, even if the treatment was initiated on or after the first flare of the disease. R‐flurbiprofen reduced immune cell infiltration and microglia activation and inflammation in the spinal cord, brain and optic nerve and attenuated myelin destruction and EAE‐evoked hyperalgesia. R‐flurbiprofen treatment increased CD4 + CD25 + FoxP3 + regulatory T cells, CTLA4 + inhibitory T cells and interleukin‐10, whereas the EAE‐evoked upregulation of pro‐inflammatory genes in the spinal cord was strongly reduced. The effects were associated with an increase of plasma and cortical endocannabinoids but decreased spinal prostaglandins, the latter likely due to R to S inversion. The promising results suggest potential efficacy of R‐flurbiprofen in human MS, and its low toxicity may justify a clinical trial.
- Published
- 2014