Reuters Health - Dec. 26, 2006
By Will Boggs, MD
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Bowman-Birk inhibitor (BBI), a soy-derived protease inhibitor, suppresses experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, according to a report in the current (November 1st) issue of Multiple Sclerosis.
"An oral agent with an extremely benign side-effect profile is shown to have significant effect in prevention and suppression of inflammation in the CNS of an experimental model of MS," Dr. Abdolmohamad Rostami from Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania told Reuters Health. "The hope is that it can be effective in MS patients as well."
Dr. Rostami and colleagues tested the efficacy of orally administered BBI concentrate in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). BBI has previously been shown effective in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia, oral leukoplakia, and ulcerative colitis.
BBI administration at the time of induction significantly delayed the onset of EAE and reduced the disease duration, maximal clinical score, and cumulative score, the researchers report.
BBI treatment (400 mg/day) after the onset of EAE significantly reduced disease duration, cumulative clinical scores, and disease-related weight loss, the results indicate.
Treatment with BBI was also associated with a reduction in central nervous system inflammation, the researchers note, as well as inhibition of antigen- and mitogen-induced T cell proliferation.
"We are planning a phase I trial of BBI concentrate in MS patients," Dr. Rostami said. "We need to secure funding for the study from NIH or other sources."
Mult Scler 2006;12:688-697.
