Alpha-tocopherol ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis through the regulation of Th۱ cells

Objective(s): Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a serious neurological autoimmune disease, it commonly affects young adults. Vitamin E (Vit E) is an important component of human diet with antioxidant activity, which protects the body’s biological systems. In order to assess the effect of Vit E treatment on this autoimmune disease, we established experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the animal model of MS, and treated EAE with α-tocopherol (AT) which is the main content of Vit E. Materials and Methods:Twenty C۵۷BL/۶ adult female mice were used and divided into two groups randomly. EAE was induced with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), and one group was treated with AT, at a dose of ۱۰۰ mg/kg on the ۳th day post-immunization with MOG, the other group was treated with ۱% alcohol. Mice were euthanized on day ۱۴, post-immunization, spleens were removed for assessing splenocytes proliferation and cytokine profile, and spinal cords were dissected to assess the infiltration of inflammatory cells in spinal cord. Results:AT was able to attenuate the severity of EAE and delay the disease progression. H&E staining and fast blue staining indicated that AT reduced the inflammation and the demyelination reaction in the spinal cord. Treatment with AT significantly decreased the proliferation of splenocytes. AT also inhibited the production of IFN-γ (Th۱ cytokine), though the other cytokines were only affected slightly. Conclusion:According to the results, AT ameliorated EAE, through suppressing the proliferation of T cells and the Th۱ response. AT may be used as a potential treatment for MS.

کلیدواژه ها:

Alpha-tocopherol ، Autoimmunity ، Inflammation ، Multiple Sclerosis ، Vitamin E