Dihydrotestosterone as a Protective Agent in Chronic Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Neuroendocrinology
Silvia GiattiRoberto Cosimo Melcangi

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the central nervous system. As reported by clinical observations, variation in hormonal levels might alter disease susceptibility and progression. Specifically, decreased levels of testosterone in males are reported to be permissive for disease onset. Accordingly, testosterone seems to exert protective effects in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). In this context, it is important to highlight that testosterone is further metabolized into 17β-estradiol or dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In this study, we aimed to explore the protective effects of DHT treatment in EAE Dark Agouti rats (i.e. an experimental model showing a protracted relapsing EAE). Data obtained 45 days after EAE induction showed that DHT exerts a beneficial effect on clinical scores, coupled with decreased gliosis (i.e. glial fibrillary acidic protein and major histocompatibility complex of class II staining) and inflammation (i.e. translocator protein 18 kDa, interleukin-1β, Toll-like receptor 4 and nuclear factor-κB expression) in the spinal cord. Moreover, parameters linked to oxidative stress and tissue damage, like thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance levels and Bcl-2-associated X pro...Continue Reading

Citations

Jan 17, 2016·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Caren RamienStefan M Gold
Dec 15, 2015·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Roberto C MelcangiLuis M Garcia-Segura
Nov 29, 2016·The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·Simone RomanoRoberto Cosimo Melcangi
Jan 9, 2018·Multiple Sclerosis : Clinical and Laboratory Research·Tanuja Chitnis
Oct 12, 2018·Journal of Neuroendocrinology·María L LeicajLaura I Garay
Sep 8, 2020·Biology of Sex Differences·Ninaad LasradoJay Reddy
May 15, 2018·Frontiers in Immunology·Melanie R Gubbels Bupp, Trine N Jorgensen
May 6, 2020·International Journal of Molecular Sciences·Abdel Mouman GhoumariRashad Hussain
Jul 5, 2017·Journal of Neuroendocrinology·A F De NicolaM C Gonzalez Deniselle
Oct 24, 2020·Journal of the Endocrine Society·Vittorio Emanuele BianchiAntonio Torsello
Feb 23, 2020·Neurobiology of Disease·Lei YangXiaoqiang Liu
Mar 7, 2021·Biomolecules·Jocelyn M BretonDaniela Kaufer

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