Evaluation of Effects of Benzoaric Acid on the I-KB/NF-Kb Complex and Expression of Caspase-8 and -9 in Animal Model of Multiple Sclerosis

Regarding the importance of new treatments to control and treat multiple sclerosis (MS), in this study we investigated the role of Benzoaric acid (BA) on the neuro-inflammation and apoptosis processes in the cuprizone (cup)-induced animal model of MS. In this experimental study, 35 males C57BL/6 mice were divided into five groups. The study groups were included, control: received six weeks of normal powdered food beside intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of BA solvent (100 µL per day PBS) for the last two weeks, cup: received six weeks of powdered food contains 0.2% cup beside i.p. injection of BA solvent for the last two weeks and cup-treatment: received six weeks of powdered food contains 0.2% cup beside i.p. injection of 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg BA for the last two weeks. Eventually, the medial corpus callosum area of the animal’s brain was evaluated via western blot and Real-Time PCR methods.  Ethical points were observed according to the declaration of Helsinki and relevant code of ethics, regarding minimizing harms during animal experimentation (UOZ-GR-9517-13). Molecular studies have shown that BA-80 decreased mRNA (p <0.01) and protein expression of NF-KB and consequently increased I-KB/NF-KB ratio (p <0.05) and decreased inflammation in compare to cup group. Moreover, BA-80 decreased caspase-9 mRNA (p<0.01) and caspase-8 mRNA (p <0.05) and subsequently increased caspase-8/caspase-9 ratio (p<0.01) and decreased apoptosis in compare to cup group. The dose of 80 mg/ml BA via decreasing cup-induced neuro-inflammation and neuro-apoptosis has protective effects in this model.