Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Mice

Abstract

Experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE), the animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS), has provided significant insight into the mechanisms that initiate and drive autoimmunity. Several central nervous system proteins and peptides have been used to induce disease, in a number of different mouse strains, to model the diverse clinical presentations of MS. In this chapter, we detail the materials and methods used to induce active and adoptive EAE. We focus on disease induction in the SJL/J, C57BL/6, and BALB/c mouse strains, using peptides derived from proteolipid protein, myelin basic protein, and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein. We also include a protocol for the isolation of leukocytes from the spinal cord and brain for flow cytometric analysis.

Fig. 1

Induction of EAE in the SJL/J mouse using PLP_139–151. Immunization of SJL/J mice with 50 µg of the PLP_139–151 peptide results in a relapsing-remitting course of EAE

Fig. 2

Induction of EAE in the C57BL/6 mouse using MOG_35–55. Immunization of C57BL/6 mice with 200 µg of the MOG_35–55 peptide results in a chronic course of EAE

Fig. 3

Induction of EAE in the BALB/c, C57BL/6, and SJL/J mouse using PLP_180–199. Immunization of BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice with 200 µg of the PLP_180–199 peptide results in a chronic course of EAE, but causes relapsing-remitting disease in SJL/J mice