Effect of diazepam on lymph node cells isolated from rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

FERNÁNDEZ HURST, NICOLÁS; BIBOLINI MARIO J.; ROTH GERMAN A.

NEUROIMMUNOMODULATION.

KARGER

Lugar: Basel; Año: 2014

1021-7401

Objective: Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease with similarities to the human disease multiple sclerosis, that requires the peripheral activation of autoreactive T cells infiltrate the central nervous system and react to self antigens leading to damage. In previous studies we have demonstrated that treatment with Diazepam decrease the incidence and histological signs associated with the disease, and diminishes immunological responses. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the direct effect of Diazepam on isolated T cells involved in the immune response during the development of EAE. Methods: The animals were sensitized with whole myelin to induce EAE and sacrificed during the acute phase of the disease. The mononuclear cells were isolated from popliteal lymph nodes and cell viability, apoptosis induction, proliferation and cytokine production was evaluated. Results: We observed that Diazepam does not have toxic, or pro-apoptotic effect on the cells, at least up to concentration of 25 μM, but this benzodiazepine reduce in a dose dependent manner the proliferation, the state of activation of CD8+ T-cells and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Conclusions: Diazepam has a direct inhibitory effect on the proliferation and activation of T lymphocytes isolated from the main lymphoid organ involved in the onset of the disease and this could be one of mechanisms that contribute to the beneficial effect previously observed with Diazepam in vivo during the EAE development.