Efficacy and tolerability of folate-aminopterin therapy in a rat focal model of multiple sclerosis.
J Neuroinflammation
; 18(1): 30, 2021 Jan 20.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33472663
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Activated macrophages in the experimental model of multiple sclerosis (MS) express folate receptor-ß (FR-ß), representing a promising target for the treatment of MS. Here, we both evaluated the efficacy of a novel folate-aminopterin construct (EC2319) in a rat focal model of multiple sclerosis (MS) and investigated the utility of 68Ga-labeled 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid-conjugated folate (68Ga-FOL) for assessing inflammatory lesions. In addition, we investigated whether FR-ß is expressed in the brain of patients with MS.METHODS:
Focal delayed-type hypersensitivity experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (fDTH-EAE) was induced in 40 Lewis rats; 20 healthy Lewis rats were used as controls. Rats were divided into six groups according to the duration of disease (control, acute, or chronic) and intervention (vehicle versus EC2319). 68Ga-FOL analyses, histology, and immunofluorescence of the brain were performed to evaluate the efficacy of subcutaneously administered EC2319 on lesion development. Immunofluorescence was used to assess FR-ß expression in postmortem brain samples from 5 patients with MS and 5 healthy controls.RESULTS:
Immunofluorescence and histological analyses revealed significant reductions in FR-ß expression (P < 0.05) and lesion size (P < 0.01), as well as improved inducible nitric oxide synthase/mannose receptor C type 1 ratios (P < 0.01) in macrophages and microglia during the chronic but not acute phase of fDTH-EAE in EC2319-treated rats. The uptake of IV-injected 68Ga-FOL in the brain was low and did not differ between the groups, but the in vitro binding of 68Ga-FOL was significantly lower in EC2319-treated rats (P < 0.01). FR-ß positivity was observed in chronically active lesions and in normal-appearing white matter in MS brain samples.CONCLUSIONS:
EC2319 was well tolerated and attenuated inflammation and lesion development in a rat model of a chronic progressive form of MS. Human MS patients have FR-ß-positive cells in chronically active plaques, which suggests that these results may have translational relevance.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Encefalomielite Autoimune Experimental
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Receptor 2 de Folato
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Ácido Fólico
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Antagonistas do Ácido Fólico
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Aminopterina
Limite:
Animals
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Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Neuroinflammation
Assunto da revista:
NEUROLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2021
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Finlândia