Background: Cladribine (2-CdA) can cross the blood-brain barrier, resulting in inhibition of DNA synthesis and repair and disruption of cellular proliferation in actively dividing lymphocytes. No data on effect on neurons are available.
Aim: To study "in vitro" 2-CdA apoptotic effects on neurons in healthy donor and multiple sclerosis patient lymphocytes.
Methods: Neuroblastoma cells were co-cultured with lymphocytes, with and without 2-CdA.
Results: Apoptosis increased in lymphocytes with 2-CdA; increase was also observed when lymphocytes were cultured with neuronal cells. However, neurons were not affected by 2-CdA for apoptosis.
Conclusions: 2-CdA causes peripheral and central lymphocyte death preserving neurons, with a reasonable impact on inflammation and neuroprotection.
Keywords: apoptosis; cladribine; multiple sclerosis; neurons.