P3‐417: Targeting Ace–an Enzyme That Controls Blood Pressure–to Myelomonocytes Prevents Alzheimer's‐like Pathology and Cognitive Decline

Abstract

development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in rats and to elucidate its underlying mechanisms. Methods: EAE model was induced by immunization of adult female Lewis rats with purified guineapig myelin basic protein (MBP)68-86. CIG and EF were administrated intragastrically once a day after immunization until day 21 post immunization (p.i.). Histopathological staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), biochemical methods and western blotting approaches were used to evaluate the disease incidence and severity, neuroinflammatory and neurotrophic response in the central nervous system (CNS). Results: CIG or EF intragastrical administration significantly reduced clinical score of neurological deficit in EAE rats; alleviated demyelination and inflammatory infiltration; and inhibited glias activation, nuclear transcription factor (NF-kB) expression in the spinal cord of EAE rats. Treatment with CIG or EF also enhanced neurotrophic factors such as nerve growth factor (NGF) or brain-derived nerve factor (BDNF) expression, increased the number of oligodendrocytes and protected the ultrastructure of myelin sheaths and axons in the spinal cord of EAE rats. Conclusions: Our results showed that CIG and EF could inhibit the development of MBP-induced EAE in rats and our findings suggest that traditional Chinese medicine with reinforcing kidney activity may be useful for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. This effect involved reducing neuroinflammation and enhancing myelination and neurotrophins.