Neurology 1999 Apr 12;52(6):1230-8


Estriol ameliorates autoimmune demyelinating disease: implications
for multiple sclerosis.

Kim S, Liva SM, Dalal MA, Verity MA, Voskuhl RR

Department of Neurology, University of California Los Angeles School
of Medicine, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of estriol in the treatment of  experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and other cell  mediated autoimmune diseases. BACKGROUND: Experimental autoimmune  encephalomyelitis is a T helper 1 (Th1)-mediated autoimmune  demyelinating disease that is a useful model for the study of immune   responses in MS. Interestingly, both EAE and MS have been shown to be
ameliorated during late pregnancy. METHODS: Estriol, progesterone,  and placebo pellets were implanted in mice during the effector phase  of adoptive EAE. Disease scores were compared between treatment  groups, and autoantigen-specific humoral and cellular responses were examined.

RESULTS: Estriol treatment reduced the severity of EAE  significantly compared with placebo treatment whereas progesterone  treatment had no effect. Estriol doses that induced serum estriol levels that approximated estriol levels during late pregnancy were capable of ameliorating disease. Estriol-treated EAE mice had significantly higher levels of serum antibodies of the immunoglobulin (Ig) G1 isotype specific for the autoantigen myelin basic protein (MBP). Further, MBP-specific T-lymphocyte responses from estriol-treated EAE mice were characterized by significantly increased production of the Th2 cytokine interleukin 10 (IL-10). T lymphocytes were shown to be the primary source of IL-10 within antigen-stimulated splenocyte populations. CONCLUSIONS: Estriol as a hormone involved in immune changes during pregnancy may provide a basis for the novel therapeutic use of estriol for MS and other
putative Th1-mediated autoimmune diseases that improve during late
pregnancy.


PMID: 10214749, UI: 99229562

  This material is provided as general medical information and is not intended as advice for individual patients; please contact your physician for specific recommendations.

Home

Doctors

Faqs

Library

Family

Boards

Forums

Webcast

Exchange

Support Group

Your Multiple Sclerosis Resource	International MS Support Foundation 9420 E. Golf Links Rd, #291, Tucson, AZ 85730

Bluedomino  A company with a heart who didn't think twice about helping with our efforts.  Thank you staff for all of your helpful online support.  Please show your appreciation by contacting them for your Internet needs.	Copyright © 1996-2002 International MS Support Foundation	Sponsored by public contributions, a grant from  Biogen  and long dedicated hours by volunteers with multiple sclerosis.
Email Jean ©1996-2002 International MS Support Foundation.  All rights reserved. Disclaimer: This material is provided as general medical information only and may not include all side effects or details relevant to a particular individual's treatment. Answers are not intended as advice for individual patients; please contact your own physician/neurologist  for specific recommendations.