SUPPRESSION OF ACUTE EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGIC ENCEPHALOMYELITIS IN LEWISRATS WITH A MYCOPHENOLIC-ACID DERIVATIVE

Oral administration of ethyl O-[N-(p-carboxyphenyl-carbamoyl]-mycophen olate (CAM), a derivative of mycophenolic acid (MPA) and an inosine mo nophosphate dehydrogenase inhibitor, dose-dependently suppressed acute experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in Lewis rats without exertin g any serious adverse effects. A daily dose of 50 mg/kg of CAM almost completely abolished both the clinical disease and the inflammation in the CNS. In the CAM-treated rats, a weight loss and fluctuations of p eripheral lymphocyte subsets mere minimized. The CAM treatment was eff ective when started at the time of sensitization but ineffective when deferred till day 10. Furthermore, CAM reduced the percentage of CD4+C D45RC- cells in the peripheral blood. The only detectable adverse effe ct was moderate anemia but it was rapidly improved after withdrawal of the drug. This drug could be a useful adjunct for the long-term immun osuppressive therapy for inflammatory diseases of the CNS. (C) 1997 To hoku University Medical Press.