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Updated: Jun 16, 2026
Induction of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Mice and Evaluation of the Disease-dependent Distribution of Immune Cells in Various Tissues
Published on: May 8, 2016
No significant effect of orally administered chemokine receptor 1 antagonist on intercellular adhesion molecule-3
R Reuss1, V Schreiber, A Klein
1Department of Neurology, Justus Liebig University, Giebetaen Germany. reinhard.reuss@neuro.med.uni-giessen.de
Abstract:
We investigated the expression of intercellular adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and ICAM-3 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells in a subgroup of 34 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who were treated orally with the chemokine receptor 1 antagonist BX 471 in a 16-week, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase II study. ICAM-1 and ICAM-3 expression was measured by flow cytometry at different time points during and after therapy and compared using multivariate analysis of variance and non-parametric Mann Whitney test. ICAM-3 expression on CD14( +) peripheral blood mononuclear cells was increased in the verum group under therapy, but did not differ significantly between the verum and placebo groups. Most likely, this trend represents a small epiphenomenon only mediated by receptor cross-talk and feedback mechanisms.
Insights
This study examined intercellular adhesion molecules in multiple sclerosis patients treated with BX 471. While ICAM-3 expression trended higher in treated patients, no significant differences were found compared to placebo.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system.
- Intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAMs) play a role in immune cell trafficking and inflammation.
- Chemokine receptors are implicated in the pathogenesis of MS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of the chemokine receptor 1 antagonist BX 471 on ICAM-1 and ICAM-3 expression in patients with relapsing-remitting MS.
- To assess changes in ICAM expression during and after a 16-week treatment period.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase II study involving 34 relapsing-remitting MS patients.
- Oral administration of BX 471 or placebo for 16 weeks.
- Flow cytometry was used to measure ICAM-1 and ICAM-3 expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).
- Statistical analysis included multivariate analysis of variance and Mann Whitney U test.
Main Results:
- A trend towards increased ICAM-3 expression was observed on CD14(+) PBMCs in the BX 471 (verum) group during therapy.
- No statistically significant differences in ICAM-1 or ICAM-3 expression were found between the verum and placebo groups.
- The observed trend in ICAM-3 expression is likely a minor epiphenomenon due to receptor cross-talk.
Conclusions:
- The chemokine receptor 1 antagonist BX 471 did not significantly alter ICAM-1 or ICAM-3 expression in relapsing-remitting MS patients.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the role of ICAMs and chemokine receptors in MS pathogenesis and treatment.
