Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0014070 (encephalomyelitis)
 13,017 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Injection of Brown-Norway rats with mercuric chloride (HgCl2) activates a T helper type 2 (Th2) autoimmune response, with production of a number of autoantibodies and vasculitis primarily affecting the gut. Glucocorticoids have been shown to suppress Th1 and to promote the development of Th2-type responses. Conversely dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) promotes Th1 responses with suppression of Th2 responses. This study set out to define the role of these hormones in this animal model. Rats were adrenalectomized (Adx) with no steroid replacement (n = 11), Adx with basal steroid replacement given by a 25 mg corticosterone pellet inserted subcutaneously (n = 13), or sham-Adx (n = 14) prior to administration of HgCl2. In both groups of Adx animals there was a delay in the production of immunoglobulin E (IgE) and serum concentrations on day 9 were marginally lower (P = 0.035, repeated measures ANOVA). All of the animals Adx with no steroid replacement and two Adx animals with steroid replacement died between 10 and 14 days after HgCl2 challenge. There was no difference in the severity of caecal vasculitis between the groups. A significant increase in adrenal size was noted following administration of HgCl2. Administration of subcutaneous DHEA implants (100 mg and 200 mg) had no significant effect on IgE concentrations or severity of vasculitis. These observations do not support the hypothesis that corticosterone and DHEA play a central role in setting the Th1/Th2 balance in this experimental Th2-mediated autoimmune disease; in contrast with the Th1-mediated autoimmune disease experimental allergic encephalomyelitis where corticosterone plays a key role in immunoregulation.
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PMID:The role of endogenous steroid hormones in the generation of T helper 2-mediated autoimmunity in mercuric chloride-treated Brown-Norway rats. 1065 52

Estrogen has been reported to have immunosuppressive functions, and to inhibit the progression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS). Since estrogen shows its biological effects via estrogen receptors (ER), we investigate the possible role of ER genes (ERG) in the pathogenesis of MS. PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms in ERG were detected by PCR-RFLP from the DNA of 79 conventional MS patients and 73 healthy controls. The [P] allele in the profiles in PvuII was significantly more prevalent in MS patients than in the controls (P<0.0005). In the study of XbaI polymorphism, the onset age of MS patients with the Xx genotype was earlier than that of the xx genotype group (mean age+/-S.D.; 22.60+/-8.04, and 27.49+/-9.14, respectively) (P<0.05) by ANOVA followed by Fisher's PLSD. Although the Xx genotype group tended to earlier onset age than the XX genotype group (29.60+/-11.10), this difference did not reach. On the basis of these results, PvuII polymorphism might be associated with susceptibility to MS, and XbaI polymorphism with onset age of MS. ERG polymorphism should be further studied in other populations to improve strategies for treatment of MS.
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PMID:Estrogen receptor gene polymorphism in Japanese patients with multiple sclerosis. 1105 88

Pristane-induced arthritis (PIA) in rats is an animal model for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We have previously identified seven quantitative trait loci (QTLs), which regulate arthritis development using a cross between the susceptible DA strain and the resistant E3 strain of rats (Pia2-8). In the present study the inbred rat strain LEW.1F was used as the susceptible strain in a cross with the E3 strain. The results confirmed the locus Pia4 on chromosome 12, which previously was shown to be associated with PIA, and also with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, in crosses between the rat strains E3 and DA. On chromosome 1, linked to the albino locus, we identified a novel QTL, Pia9 in the LEW.F1 cross. This locus was associated with arthritis severity in the early phase of disease. A locus on chromosome 16, denoted Pia11, was also associated with arthritis severity in the early phase of the disease. A suggestive locus was detected on chromosome 14, which was associated with arthritis severity at the time when PIA progresses into a chronic phase. Using a congenic LEW.1F strain, which carries E3 alleles at the Pia9 locus, we confirmed that the E3 allele significantly suppresses arthritis severity during the early phase of the disease. The results revealed synergistic effects between different susceptibility loci using ANOVA analysis. These interactions were influenced by gender. Rats with Pia9 alleles from LEW.1F and Pia11 alleles from E3, were shown to suffer from much more severe arthritis in the early stage of the disease. On the other hand, the Pia9 and the suggestive locus on chromosome 14 affected only males during the chronic phase of the disease. These findings provide clues to how genetic factors by themselves, and in interaction with each other, regulate the development of a disease, which displays many similarities to RA.
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PMID:Both common and unique susceptibility genes in different rat strains with pristane-induced arthritis. 1211 42

We have initiated studies to evaluate the suitability of performing therapeutic conditioning trials in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mice treated with alpha lipoic acid (ALA). EAE was induced in SJL mice by active immunization with myelin antigen. Once daily subcutaneous injection of ALA served as the unconditional stimulus (US) administered with the conditional stimulus (CS) saccharin-flavored drinking water under a regimen of restricted water access. In the first study, we found that water restriction and saccharin administration were compatible with disease development and effective ALA treatment of EAE mice. In the second study, mice were conditioned to once daily administration of ALA paired with administration of saccharin-flavored water (US+CS) on days 7-16. Test trials spanned experimental days 17-32 in groups receiving either saccharin-flavored water (CS, in the experimental group) versus unflavored water (CSo, in the control group) and compared several measures of EAE severity using multivariate ANOVA (MANOVA). Reduced disease severity in the experimental group (US+CS:CS) compared to the control group (US+CS:CSo) suggested that conditioning had occurred. These results demonstrate an approach for conducting therapeutic conditioning trials in EAE mice and suggest considerations for future investigations.
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PMID:Treatment of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis with alpha lipoic acid and associative conditioning. 1816 66