Volume 132, Issue 6 pp. 452-464
Original Article

Exploring the immune-modulating properties of boswellic acid in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Alireza Shadab

Alireza Shadab

Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran

Deputy of Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

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Mohammad Abbasi-Kolli

Mohammad Abbasi-Kolli

Deputy of Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

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Esmaeil Yazdanpanah

Esmaeil Yazdanpanah

Immunology Research Center, and Department of Immunology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

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Seyed-Alireza Esmaeili

Seyed-Alireza Esmaeili

Immunology Research Center, and Department of Immunology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

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Rasoul Baharlou

Rasoul Baharlou

Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran

Cancer Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran

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Bahman Yousefi

Bahman Yousefi

Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran

Cancer Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran

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Dariush Haghmorad

Corresponding Author

Dariush Haghmorad

Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran

Cancer Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran

Dariush Haghmorad, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran. e-mail: [email protected]

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First published: 02 April 2024

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition where the central nervous system loses its myelin coating due to autoimmune inflammation. The experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) simulates some aspects of human MS. Boswellic acids are natural compounds derived from frankincense extract, known for their anti-inflammatory properties. The purpose of this research was to investigate therapeutic potential of boswellic acids. Mice were divided into three groups: low-dose (LD), high-dose (HD), and control groups (CTRL). Following EAE induction, the mice received daily doses of boswellic acid for 25 days. Brain tissue damage, clinical symptoms, and levels of TGF-β, IFN-γ, and IL-17 cytokines in cell cultured supernatant of lymphocytes were assessed. Gene expression of transcription factors in brain was measured using real-time PCR. The levels of brain demyelination were significantly lower in the treatment groups compared to the CTRL group. Boswellic acid reduced the severity and duration of EAE symptoms. Furthermore, boswellic acid decreased the amounts of IFN-γ and IL-17, also the expression of T-bet and ROR-γt in brain. On the contrary, it increased the levels of TGF-β and the expression FoxP3 and GATA3. Our findings suggest that boswellic acids possess therapeutic potential for EAE by modulating the immune response and reducing inflammation.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare no financial or commercial conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content of this manuscript.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.

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