| First Author | Raposo C | Year | 2013 |
| Journal | Mediators Inflamm | Volume | 2013 |
| Pages | 321460 | PubMed ID | 23970812 |
| Mgi Jnum | J:310685 | Mgi Id | MGI:6763739 |
| Doi | 10.1155/2013/321460 | Citation | Raposo C, et al. (2013) Sildenafil (Viagra) protective effects on neuroinflammation: the role of iNOS/NO system in an inflammatory demyelination model. Mediators Inflamm 2013:321460 |
| abstractText | We recently demonstrated that sildenafil reduces the expression of cytokines, COX-2, and GFAP in a demyelinating model induced in wild-type (WT) mice. Herein, the understandings of the neuroprotective effect of sildenafil and the mediation of iNOS/NO system on inflammatory demyelination induced by cuprizone were investigated. The cerebella of iNOS(-/-) mice were examined after four weeks of treatment with cuprizone alone or combined with sildenafil. Cuprizone increased GFAP, Iba-1, TNF- alpha , COX-2, IL-1 beta , and IFN- gamma expression, decreased expression of glutathione S-transferase pi (GSTpi), and damaged myelin in iNOS(-/-) mice. Sildenafil reduced Iba-1, IFN- gamma , and IL-1 beta levels but had no effect on the expression of GFAP, TNF- alpha , and COX-2 compared to the cuprizone group. Sildenafil elevated GSTpi levels and improved the myelin structure/ultrastructure. iNOS(-/-) mice suffered from severe inflammation following treatment with cuprizone, while WT mice had milder inflammation, as found in the previous study. It is possible that inflammatory regulation through iNOS-feedback is absent in iNOS(-/-) mice, making them more susceptible to inflammation. Sildenafil has at least a partial anti-inflammatory effect through iNOS inhibition, as its effect on iNOS(-/-) mice was limited. Further studies are required to explain the underlying mechanism of the sildenafil effects. |
