Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis (EAE) and phase 2 enzyme inducer
The pathology of multiple sclerosis and EAE has shown converging
evidence of the oxidative stress causing perivascular mononuclear
infiltrate causing demyelination. The phase 2 enzymes are known to
decrease the oxidative stress. We used 24 Lewis rats, placed in two
groups: 1) non-BHA (normal chow), 2) BHA soaked chow)to test this
fact in EAE. All the animals were administered 100 µg of guinea pig
myelin basic protein in their tails to induce EAE and examined
daily in a double blinded fashion. On 29th day of the induction the
animals were sacrificed, blood collected for glutathione (GSH)
measurements and tissues collected for histology. All the animals,
regardless of their diet status, developed symptoms of EAE and
reached remission of acute EAE before 28th day of induction. The
histology of the non-BHA group correlated well with the clinical
symptoms of perivascular mononuclear infiltration. However the BHA
group revealed complete pathological recovery. The BHA rats also
had significantly raised GSH indicating the induction of phase 2
enzymes. We conclude that dietary phase 2 enzyme inducers show
potential therapeutic benefits in EAE.
Dr. Mohammed Yunus is a pathologist trained mainly in India (Grant Medical College). He has also did his research in Canada where he was awarded MSc (pathology). He has worked in various medical laboratories of the hospitals on various capacity. Presently, he is working as Associate Professor of pathology in a Caribbean medical school.
