Genistein down-modulates pro-inflammatory cytokines and reverses clinical signs of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

• Published in: International immunopharmacology Vol. 8; no. 9; pp. 1291 - 1297
• Main Authors: De Paula, Marcio L., Rodrigues, David H., Teixeira, Henrique C., Barsante, Michele M., Souza, Maria A., Ferreira, Ana P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.09.2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Anticarcinogenic Agents - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Cells, Cultured; Cytokines; Cytokines - biosynthesis; Down-Regulation - drug effects; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental - drug therapy; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental - metabolism; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental - pathology; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis; Female; Genistein; Genistein - pharmacology; Glycoproteins - toxicity; Interleukin-10 - biosynthesis; Intravital microscopy; Leukocytes - drug effects; Leukocytes - metabolism; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Multiple sclerosis; Multiple sclerosis and variants. Guillain barré syndrome and other inflammatory polyneuropathies. Leukoencephalitis; Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein; Neurology; Peptide Fragments - toxicity; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Spleen - cytology; Spleen - drug effects; Up-Regulation - drug effects; Intravital microscopy; Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis; Multiple sclerosis; Cytokines; Genistein; Autoimmunity; Animal model; Nervous system diseases; Tyrosine kinase inhibitor; Cytokine; Inflammation; Isoflavone derivatives; Flavonoid; Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis; Inflammatory disease; Polyphenol; Microscopy; Central nervous system disease; Phenols; Reversibility; Expérimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
• ISSN: 1567-5769; 1878-1705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2008.05.002

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common non-traumatic, disabling neurological human inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) models MS and is characterized as a CD4+ T-helper type 1 (Th1) cell-mediated autoimmune disease. It is characterized by an influx of activated leukocytes into the CNS. Genistein, occurring abundantly in soy products, has apoptotic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. In the present report, we investigated the use of genistein for the treatment of the murine model of MS. After induction of EAE with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 35–55 peptide (MOG 35–55), we observed that genistein treatment ameliorated significantly the clinical symptoms, modulating pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, we analyzed the leukocyte rolling and adherence in the CNS by performing intravital microscopy. Genistein treatment resulted in decreased rolling and adhering of leukocytes as compared to the untreated group. Our data suggest that genistein might be a potential therapy for MS.