Effective combination of minocycline and interferon-beta in a model of multiple sclerosis

J Neuroimmunol. 2005 Aug;165(1-2):83-91. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2005.04.020.

Abstract

The objective of the current study was to investigate whether minocycline improves the effect of an existing multiple sclerosis (MS) medication, interferon-beta, on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mice. When used at sub-optimal doses, neither medication affected EAE but their combination at these doses led to the significant alleviation of EAE disease severity scores and histological outcomes. In culture, the toxicity of T cells to neurons was alleviated by their prior exposure to minocycline or interferon-beta and their combination further attenuated neuronal death. Collectively, these results suggest the utility of the combination of minocycline and interferon-beta in MS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Cell Death / immunology
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / immunology*
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / pathology
  • Humans
  • Interferon Type I / administration & dosage
  • Interferon Type I / pharmacology
  • Interferon Type I / therapeutic use*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Mice
  • Minocycline / administration & dosage
  • Minocycline / pharmacology
  • Minocycline / therapeutic use*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / drug therapy*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / immunology*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / pathology
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / immunology
  • Neurons / pathology
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / cytology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology

Substances

  • Interferon Type I
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Minocycline