MS14 Down-regulates Lipocalin2 Expression in Spinal Cord Tissue in an Animal Model of Multiple Sclerosis in female C57BL/6

BACKGROUND 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 MS14, an herbal-marine drug, has anti-inflammatory properties through reduction of TNF-α and IL-1β. Thus, the present study investigated the effects of MS14 on the course of EAE and its relation to LCN2 expression in both protein and gene levels. METHODS 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 21st and 35th 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. RESULTS MS14 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 MS14 treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The results demonstrated that MS14 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.