Cerebrospinal fluid levels of immunoreactive substance P and somatostatin in patients with multiple sclerosis and inflammatory CNS disease

Breaking or making immunological privilege in the central nervous system: The regulation of immunity by neuropeptides

“…In EAE in a susceptible rat strain, early SST treatment was able to delay clinical signs for several days, but not dampen the severity of eventual clinical symptoms; and a resistant rat strain was rendered more susceptible to disease after SST treatment [77]. In human MS, Rosler et al reported that they were unable to distinguish a difference between CSF SST levels in MS patients and controls [78]. More evidence suggests the contrary, however.…”

“…It was reported in 1989 that SP immunoreactive astrocytes are found in myelin plaques in MS patients [104], and thus it was suggested that SP may participate in the pathogenesis of MS [105], although it had recently been reported that there was no difference in CSF SP in patients suffering from MS [78]. Since then however, Qureshi et al have contradicted that finding, showing, paradoxically, a lower level of SP in MS patients [64].…”