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Updated: Apr 16, 2026
Determining Immune System Suppression versus CNS Protection for Pharmacological Interventions in Autoimmune Demyelination
Published on: September 12, 2016
Suppression of murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis development by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 with
Chao Zhen1, Xuedan Feng1, Zhe Li2
1Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050000 Hebei, China.
Abstract:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) has been associated with a history of sub-optimal exposure to ultraviolet light, implicating vitamin D3 as a possible protective agent. We evaluated whether 1,25(OH)2D3 attenuates the progression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), and explored its potential mechanisms. EAE was induced in C57BL/6 mice via immunization with MOG35-55, and some mice received 1,25(OH)2D3. 1,25(OH)2D3 inhibited EAE progression. Additionally, 1,25(OH)2D3 reduced inflammation, demyelination, and neuron loss in the spinal cord. The protective effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 was associated with significantly elevated expression of Beclin1, increased Bcl-2/Bax ratio, and decreased LC3-II accumulation. Thus, 1,25(OH)2D3 may represent a promising new MS treatment.
