Effects of long-circulating polyethylene glycol (PEG) minocycline-liposomes on inflammation within the central nervous system (CNS).

<p>A decreased number of inflammatory foci in the brain of mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) treated with PEG minocycline-liposomes at disease onset was detected (A). Specifically, the number of CD11b⁺ macrophages, CD3⁺ T lymphocytes, and the overall expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 were decreased by PEG minocycline-liposomes treatment (A,B). There was no difference with regard to the numbers of immunoreactive cells between mice that were treated daily with intraperitoneal (i.p.) minocycline, and animals that had received intravenous (i.v.) PEG minocycline-liposomes (B). There was no difference with regard to the number of CD11b⁺ macrophages, CD3⁺ T lymphocytes, and the expression of MMP-9 in the CNS between animals that had received no treatment, daily i.v. PBS injection, and empty PEG-liposomes administered i.p every five days (data not shown).