Progesterone enhanced remyelination in the mouse corpus callosum after cuprizone induced demyelination

Background: Progesterone as a sex steroid hormone is thought to affect and prevent demyelination, but its role in promoting myelin repair is far less investigated. In this study, remyelinating potential of progesterone in corpus callosum was evaluated on an experimental model of MS

Methods: In this experimental study, adult male C57BL/6 mice were fed with 0.2% [w/w] cuprizone in ground breeder chow ad libitum for 6 weeks. At day zero, after cuprizone removal, mice were divided randomly into two groups: [a] placebo group, which received saline pellet implant, [b] progesterone group, which received progesterone pellet implant. Some mice of the same age were fed with their normal diet to serve as the healthy control group. Two weeks after progesterone administration, Myelin content was assessed by Luxol-fast blue staining. The myelin basic protein [MBP] and proteolipid protein [PLP] expression were assessed using Western blot analysis and the changes in the number of oligodendrocytes and oligodendroglial progenitor cells were assessed by immunohistochemistry [IHC] and flow cytometry

Results: Luxol-fast blue staining revealed enhanced remyelination in the progesterone group when compared with the placebo group. Densitometry measurements of immunoblots demonstrated that MBP and PLP proteins contents were significantly increased in the progesterone group compared with the placebo group. Flow cytometry and IHC analysis showed increases in Olig2 and O4 cells in the progesterone group compared with the placebo group

Conclusion: Overall, our results indicate that progesterone treatment can stimulate myelin production and that it may provide a feasible and practical way for remyelination in diseases such as multiple sclerosis

MS 14 down-regulates lipocalin2 expression in spinal cord tissue in an animal model of multiple sclerosis in female C57BL/6

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis [EAE] is an animal model of multiple sclerosis, which is a demyelinating and an inflammatory disease of central nervous system. Recent studies have established that some molecules such as Lipocaline2 [LCN2], which expresses during inflammatory conditions, play an important role in EAE pathogenesis and might involve in its treatment process. Recently, it has been proved that MS 14, an herbal-marine drug, has anti-inflammatory properties through reduction of TNF-a and IL-lp. Thus, the present study investigated the effects of MS 14 on the course of EAE and its relation to LCN2 expression in both protein and gene levels. EAE was induced in female C57BL/6 mice using Hooke kits. Animals were scored for clinical signs of the disease according to a 10-point EAE scoring system. On 21[st] and 35[th] days after immunization, mice [n = 4/group] were deeply anesthetized, and the spinal cords were removed. Inflammatory cell infiltration and LCN2 expression in spinal cord were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining, immuno-histochemistry, and real-time PCR methods. MS 14 significantly ameliorated EAE symptoms and decreased lymphocyte infiltration into the spinal cord [P<0.05]. Our data also revealed that LCN2 expression was significantly down-regulated in acute and chronic phases of EAE both at protein and gene levels after MS 14 treatment [P<0.05]. The results demonstrated that MS 14 regulatory effect on EAE is accompanied by LCN2 down-regulation after treatment with the herb; however, more studies are required for clarifying the other involved mechanisms

Promotion of remyelination by adipose mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in a cuprizone model of multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis [MS] is an immune-mediated demyelinating disease of the central nervous system [CNS]. Stem cell transplantation is a new therapeutic approach for demyelinating diseases such as MS which may promote remyelination. In this study, we evaluate the remyelinating potential of adipose mesenchymal stem cells [ADSCs] and their effect on neural cell composition in the corpus callosum in an experimental model of MS. This experimental study used adult male C57BL/6 mice. Cultured ADSCs were confirmed to be CD73[+], CD90[+], CD31[-],CD45[-], and labeled by PKH26. Animals were fed with 0.2% w/w cuprizone added to ground breeder chow ad libitum for six weeks. At day 0 after cuprizone removal, mice were randomly divided into two groups: the ADSCs-transplanted group and the control vehicle group [received medium alone]. Some mice of the same age were fed with their normal diet to serve as healthy control group. Homing of ADSCs in demyelinated lesions was examined by fluorescent microscope. At ten days after transplantation, the mice were euthanized and their cells analyzed by luxol fast blue staining [LFB], transmission electron microscopy and flow cytometry. Results were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance [ANOVA]. According to fluorescent cell labeling, transplanted ADSCs appeared to survive and exhibited homing specificity. LFB staining and transmission electron microscope evaluation revealed enhanced remyelination in the transplanted group compared to the control vehicle group. Flow cytometry analysis showed an increase in Olig2 and O4 cells and a decrease in GFAP and Iba-1 cells in the transplanted group. Our results indicate that ADSCs may provide a feasible, practical way for remyelination in diseases such as MS

effects of Boswellia resin extract on dopaminergic cell line, SK-N-SH, against MPP[+]-induced neurotoxicity

Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation are involved in neurodegeneration procedure in Parkinson's disease. Recently, neuroprotective potential of Boswellia resin has been demonstrated. Therefore, this study examined whether administration of Boswellia resin would attenuate MPP+- induced neuronal death in SK-N-SH- cell line, a human dopaminergic neurons- in vitro. Boswellia resin extract was added to culture medium [10microg/ml] before and after exposure of SK-N-SH cell line to MPP+ [1000microM]. Cell viability and apoptosis features were assessed using MTT and Hoechst staining, respectively. Treatment with Boswellia resin 2 and 3h prior to MPP ° exposure and up to 60 minutes after MPP ° exposure significantly increased cell viability compare to untreated cells. Apoptotic features were also reduced significantly by Boswellia resin [10 microg/ml] compare to that of control untreated cells. Boswellia resin has neuroprotective effects on dopaminergic neurons which can be applicable in Parkinson's disease