A co-ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide/luteolin composite mitigates clinical score and disease-relevant molecular markers in a mouse model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Background Persistent and/or recurrent inflammatory processes are the main factor leading to multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions. The composite ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide, an endogenous N-acylethanolamine, combined with the flavonoid luteolin, PEALut, have been found to exert neuroprotective activities in experimental models of spinal and brain injury and Alzheimer disease, as well as a clinical improvement in human stroke patients. Furthermore, PEALut enhances the expression of different myelin proteins in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells suggesting that this composite might have protective effects in MS experimental models. Methods The mouse model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) based on active immunization with a fragment of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG 35-55 ) was used. The daily assessment of clinical score and the expression of serum amyloid A (SAA1), proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, IFN-γ, and NLRP3 inflammasome, as well as TLR2, Fpr2, CD137, CD3-γ, and TCR-ζ chain, heterodimers that form T cell surface glycoprotein (TCR), and cannabinoid receptors CB 1 , CB 2 , and MBP, were evaluated in the brainstem and cerebellum at different postimmunization days (PIDs). Results Vehicle-MOG 35-55 -immunized (MOG 35-55 ) mice developed ascending paralysis which peaked several days later and persisted until the end of the experiment. PEALut, given intraperitoneally daily starting on day 11 post-immunization, dose-dependently improved clinical score over the range 0.1–5 mg/kg. The mRNA expression of SAA1, TNF-α, IL-1β, IFN-γ, and NLRP3 were significantly increased in MOG 35-55 mice at 14 PID. In MOG 35-55 mice treated with 5 mg /kg PEALut, the increase of SAA1, TNF- α, IL-1β, and IFN-γ transcripts at 14 PID was statistically downregulated as compared to vehicle-MOG 35-55 mice ( p < 0.05). The expression of TLR2, Fpr2, CD137, CD3-γ, TCR-ζ chain, and CB 2 receptors showed a significant upregulation in vehicle-MOG 35-55 mice at 14 PID. Instead, CB 1 and MBP transcripts have not changed in expression at any time. In MOG/PEALut-treated mice, TLR2, Fpr2, CD137, CD3-γ, TCR-ζ chain, and CB 2 mRNAs were significantly downregulated as compared to vehicle MOG 35-55 mice. Conclusions The present results demonstrate that the intraperitoneal administration of the composite PEALut significantly reduces the development of clinical signs in the MOG 35-55 model of EAE. The dose-dependent improvement of clinical score induced by PEALut was associated with a reduction in transcript expression of the acute-phase protein SAA1, TNF-α, IL-1β, IFN-γ, and NLRP3 proinflammatory proteins and TLR2, Fpr2, CD137, CD3-γ, TCR-ζ chain, and CB 2 receptors.