Phenidone, a dual inhibitor of cyclooxygenases and lipoxygenases, ameliorates rat paralysis in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by suppressing its target enzymes

This study examined whether phenidone, a dual inhibitor of cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX), affects the clinical symptoms of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in the rat, and the expression of both COX-1/-2 and 5-LOX in EAE spinal cords. Oral phenidone (200 mg/kg) significantly suppressed the incidence and clinical severity of EAE paralysis. Western blot analysis showed that phenidone significantly inhibited the increases in COX-1/-2 and 5-LOX in the spinal cords of rats with EAE. This finding was paralleled by immunohistochemical observations. Overall, these findings suggest that COX-1/-2 and 5-LOX are important inflammatory mediators in the pathogenesis of EAE, and that the inhibition of both COX and LOX ameliorates the autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.