Effect of the leukotriene B4 receptor antagonist,SC-41930, on experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in the guinea pig

The accepted model for the human demyelinating disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), is experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). We assessed the ability of SC-41930(7-[3(4-acetyl-3-methoxy-2-propylphenoxy)-propoxy]-3,4-dihydro-8-propyl-2H-1-benzopyran-2-carboxyl acid), to modulate the symptoms of acute EAE generated in guinea pigs. Animals were pretreated with SC-41930 (20 mg/kg, i.p.) for two days followed by thrice-weekly maintenance. At day 52, a significant number of the SC-41930-treated animals were alive as compared to EAE alone. Control animals had an increase in body weight while EAE animals lost over 20% (p<0.5) of their body weight by day 18. SC-41930-treatment significantly reduced, but did not completely inhibit the cachectic response. The results indirectly implicate LTB₄ in the pathogenesis of EAE. Agents that modify this model be useful in the treatment of human MS.