The Use of Agmatine Provides the New Insight in an Experimental Model of Multiple Sclerosis

The aim of the study is to investigate the hypothesis that agmatine (AGM) enhances blood brain barrier (BBB) compounds properties in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), which is an established animal model for studying multiple sclerosis (MS). Wild-type (WT) and knockout (KO) CBA/H iNOS-/- mice, 3 months old (15 ± 5 g) were used for EAE induction by myelin basic protein (MBP) dissolved in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). The animals were divided into control, CFA, EAE, EAE + AGM and AGM groups. After the development of full clinical remission, the animals were sacrificed and the immunohistochemical and biochemical examinations were performed in brain homogenates. We had noticed the increased expressions of occludin in WT and KO mice with EAE + AGM, compared to EAE groups in which these expressions were significantly decreased compared to the controls. The significant elevations of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)-MMP-3 and MMP-9 in WT and KO EAE animals were decreased during AGM treatment in both groups. AGM application post EAE in WT and KO mice caused decreased level of Iba-1 stain, compared to EAE groups. The obtained results suggest beneficial AGM effects in EAE on BBB components, which might be useful for novel therapeutic strategies in MS.