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Updated: Dec 28, 2025
Author Spotlight: Creating a Versatile Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Model Relevant for Both Male and Female Mice
Published on: October 13, 2023
The Effects of Carbenoxolone against Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in a Mouse Model
Ying Chen1, Zhaoqi Hu2, Rui Li3
1Department of Neurology, Yijishan Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China, zsxkscy@sina.com.
Introduction:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex demyelinating disease involving central nervous system (CNS). It is still a challenge to secure an effective therapeutic strategy against this disease. Carbenoxolone (CBX) is a derivative of glycyrrhetinic acid, which is widely used in brain research for its gap-junction inhibition effects. Many researchers have observed CBX-mediated suppression of CNS inflammation in their studies.
Objective:
We want to further examine its anti-inflammation effects in CNS demyelinating disease like MS.
Methods:
Thus, our study applied an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mouse model and examined the effects of CBX on it.
Results And Conclusions:
We found that CBX significantly reversed the EAE severity and pathology in EAE. IL-17-secreting and IFN-γ-secreting CD4+ T lymphocytes were remarkably lower in the spleen of CBX-treated mice. Production of IL-23 and IL-17 from cortex in EAE animals was markedly reduced by CBX. Furthermore, CBX treatment increased the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor. This study provides evidence for the protective role of CBX against EAE.
