Regional suppression, therapy after onset and prevention of relapses in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis by mitoxantrone.

Mitoxantrone, a new antineoplastic anthracenedione drug, suppressed the development of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in rats when administered during the incubation period. One dose of mitoxantrone had a favorable effect on EAE even when withheld until after the onset of clinical signs. In a model of relapsing EAE, a single dose during a remission prevented the expected relapse. Mitoxantrone had a particularly favorable effect when administered at the site of inoculation of the encephalitogenic antigen and adjuvant, indicating the importance of its interaction with the regional draining lymph nodes. These results support the possible clinical use of mitoxantrone for immunosuppression.