Questo studio è stato supportato dal National Institutes of Health (R03NS131908) e dal Dipartimento della Difesa attraverso il programma di ricerca sulla sclerosi multipla con il premio n. W81XWH-22-1-0517. Le opinioni, le interpretazioni, le conclusioni e le raccomandazioni sono quelle dell'autore e non sono necessariamente approvate dal Dipartimento della Difesa. Questo studio è stato supportato anche dai fondi per le startup della East Carolina University.

Tutte le procedure che coinvolgono i topi sono state eseguite in conformità con le linee guida sperimentali approvate dal Comitato istituzionale per la cura e l'uso degli animali (IACUC) dell'Università della Carolina orientale. In questo studio sono stati utilizzati topi femmina Wildtype C57BL / 6J di età compresa tra 8 e 10 settimane. Gli animali sono stati ottenuti da una fonte commerciale (vedi Tabella dei materiali). L'EAE è stato indotto a seguito di rapporti precedentemente pubblicati 12,13,14.
1. Raccolta del siero
<ol><li>Eutanasia del topo sperimentale mediante asfissia da CO2 o sovradosaggio di isoflurano al momento richiesto (seguendo protocolli approvati istituzionalmente) dopo aver indotto l'EAE tramite immunizzazione MOG35-55. NOTA: Il numero totale di topi e i punti temporali per la raccolta del siero possono variare a seconda dell'esperimento specifico.</li>
	<li>Dopo che l'assenza di segni vitali è confermata dal pizzicamento del dito del piede o della coda, posizionare il topo in posizione sdraiata dorsale su un vassoio di dissezione e fissare gli arti in posizione con spilli o nastro adesivo. Orientare il corpo del mouse verso la sorgente luminosa a LED (vedere Tabella dei materiali) per illuminare il torace dell'animale.</li>
	<li>Spruzzare il pelo del topo con etanolo al 70% e praticare un'incisione mediana di 3-4 cm lungo l'addome dal bacino allo xifoide utilizzando le forbici di dissezione, facendo attenzione ad evitare eventuali organi e vasi principali (Figura 1A-C). Per facilitare la procedura, usa la pinza per afferrare la pelle durante il processo xifoideo.</li>
	<li>Tagliare lateralmente il diaframma e poi tagliare la gabbia toracica anteriormente su entrambi i bordi laterali usando le forbici a molla, fermandosi prima di raggiungere lo sterno sulla linea mediana (Figura 1D). Piega il lembo costale che è stato creato sopra la testa del topo per esporre il cuore (Figura 1E). NOTA: Il taglio dello sterno dovrebbe essere evitato in quanto ciò danneggerebbe le principali arterie toraciche adiacenti all'osso e ridurrebbe il volume di sangue che può essere raccolto.</li>
	<li>Inserire un ago da 25 G collegato a una siringa da 1 ml nel ventricolo sinistro e raccogliere il sangue tirando delicatamente indietro lo stantuffo (Figura 1F). Per facilitare la puntura dell'ago, appoggiare delicatamente il cuore contro un paio di pinze. NOTA: Se il sangue non appare immediatamente nella siringa, l'ago deve essere ruotato lentamente e deve essere testato un angolo diverso. Tuttavia, è necessario impegnarsi per posizionare correttamente l'ago al primo tentativo per evitare di creare fori inutili nel cuore in cui il sangue può fuoriuscire.</li>
	<li>Trasferire il sangue in una provetta sterile da 1,5 ml e lasciarlo coagulare per 30 minuti a temperatura ambiente. Rimuovere il coagulo mediante centrifugazione a 2000 × g per 20 min a 4 °C. Raccogliere il surnatante, che rappresenta la frazione sierica, e conservare le aliquote monouso in provette criogeniche a -80 °C per test futuri.</li>
</ol>2. Saggio ELISA
<ol><li>Risospendere il peptide MOG35-55 liofilizzato (vedi Tabella dei materiali) in acqua per ottenere uno stock di 10 mg/mL. Prima di iniziare l'esperimento, diluire il brodo a 10 μg/mL nel tampone di rivestimento (vedere la tabella dei materiali) e pipettare 100 μL/pozzetto della soluzione finale in una piastra a 96 pozzetti. Sigillare la piastra con una pellicola adesiva per evitare l'evaporazione e incubare la piastra per una notte a 4 °C. NOTA: Devono essere calcolati almeno 2 pozzetti per ogni campione e devono essere inclusi anche 2 pozzetti aggiuntivi per un controllo in bianco.</li>
	<li>Parallelamente, rivestire lo stesso numero di pozzetti con 100 μL/pozzetto di albumina sierica bovina (BSA) disciolta nel tampone di rivestimento a una concentrazione di 10 μg/mL. Questi pozzetti aggiuntivi serviranno come controlli di fondo. NOTA: Si consiglia di rivestire con BSA i pozzetti di controllo poiché i tamponi di rivestimento e di bloccaggio hanno composizioni diverse. Si prega di notare che altri peptidi encefalitogeni (come PLP139-151 o MBP84-104) potrebbero essere utilizzati come antigeni irrilevanti in alternativa alla BSA.</li>
	<li>Il giorno dopo, lavare la piastra 3 volte con 200 μL/pozzetto di soluzione salina tampone fosfato integrata con Tween 20 allo 0,05% (PBS-T). Successivamente, aggiungere 100 μL/pozzetto di una soluzione bloccante a base di BSA al 3% in PBS (senza Tween 20) e incubare la piastra sigillata per 1 ora a 37 °C in un forno di ibridazione.</li>
	<li>Lavare la piastra 3 volte con 200 μL/pozzetto di PBS-T. Diluire ogni campione di siero 1:100 in soluzione bloccante e aggiungere 100 μL/pozzetto a entrambi i pozzetti rivestiti di MOG35-55 e BSA. Aggiungere lo stesso volume di soluzione bloccante ai pozzetti designati come spazi vuoti. Incubare la piastra sigillata per 2 ore a temperatura ambiente, agitando costantemente (250 giri/min).</li>
	<li>Lavare la piastra 3 volte con 200 μL/pozzetto di PBS-T. Diluire l'anticorpo secondario coniugato con HRP (1:2000, vedere Tabella dei materiali) in una soluzione composta da BSA allo 0,2% in PBS-T e aggiungere 100 μL/pozzetto a tutti i pozzetti. Incubare la piastra sigillata per 1 ora a temperatura ambiente, agitando costantemente (250 giri/min).</li>
	<li>Lavare la piastra 3 volte con 200 μL/pozzetto di PBS-T. Aggiungere 100 μL/pozzetto di substrato di tetrametilbenzidina (TMB) da 3,3',5' (vedi Tabella dei materiali) a tutti i pozzetti e incubare al buio per 1-5 minuti, monitorando lo sviluppo di un colore blu.<ol><li>Arrestare la reazione aggiungendo 100 μL/pozzetto di soluzione di arresto (vedere la tabella dei materiali) e misurare la densità ottica (OD) in ciascun pozzetto utilizzando un lettore di piastre impostato a una lunghezza d'onda di 450 nm. NOTA: Il substrato TMB deve essere bilanciato a temperatura ambiente per 30-60 minuti prima di aggiungerlo ai pozzetti.</li>
	</ol></li>
</ol>3. Analisi dei dati
<ol><li>Compilare un foglio di calcolo Excel con i valori OD letti dalla piastra. Fare la media dei valori di OD ottenuti da pozzetti duplicati (sia rivestiti di MOG35-55 che BSA) per ciascun campione.</li>
	<li>Per ogni campione, sottrarre il valore medio dei pozzetti rivestiti di BSA da quello dei pozzetti rivestiti di MOG35-55. I valori corretti di fondo risultanti saranno proporzionali alla concentrazione di anticorpi anti-MOG35-55 nei diversi campioni di siero. NOTA: I pozzetti vuoti dovrebbero produrre valori corretti intorno a 0.</li>
	<li>Applicare un test statistico non parametrico come il test U di Mann-Whitney per confrontare i valori medi di OD tra due condizioni sperimentali. Includere almeno 3 campioni indipendenti per ciascuna condizione.</li>
</ol>

Indagine sulla risposta umorale nella demielinizzazione autoimmune

<ol>
	<li>Reich, D. S., Lucchinetti, C. F., Calabresi, P. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Multiple+sclerosis.">Multiple sclerosis.</a> N Engl J Med. 378 (2), 169-180 (2018).</li><li>Baranzini, S. E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=B+cell+repertoire+diversity+and+clonal+expansion+in+multiple+sclerosis+brain+lesions.">B cell repertoire diversity and clonal expansion in multiple sclerosis brain lesions.</a> J Immunol. 163 (9), 5133-5144 (1999).</li><li>Genain, C. P., Cannella, B., Hauser, S. L., Raine, C. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Identification+of+autoantibodies+associated+with+myelin+damage+in+multiple+sclerosis.">Identification of autoantibodies associated with myelin damage in multiple sclerosis.</a> Nat Med. 5 (2), 170-175 (1999).</li><li>Ma, Q., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Specific+hypomethylation+programs+underpin+b+cell+activation+in+early+multiple+sclerosis.">Specific hypomethylation programs underpin b cell activation in early multiple sclerosis.</a> Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 118 (51), e2111920118 (2021).</li><li>Hauser, S. L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ocrelizumab+versus+interferon+beta-1a+in+relapsing+multiple+sclerosis.">Ocrelizumab versus interferon beta-1a in relapsing multiple sclerosis.</a> N Engl J Med. 376 (3), 221-234 (2017).</li><li>Montalban, X., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ocrelizumab+versus+placebo+in+primary+progressive+multiple+sclerosis.">Ocrelizumab versus placebo in primary progressive multiple sclerosis.</a> N Engl J Med. 376 (3), 209-220 (2017).</li><li>Didonna, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Preclinical+models+of+multiple+sclerosis:+Advantages+and+limitations+towards+better+therapies.">Preclinical models of multiple sclerosis: Advantages and limitations towards better therapies.</a> Curr Med Chem. 23 (14), 1442-1459 (2016).</li><li>Steinman, L., Zamvil, S. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=How+to+successfully+apply+animal+studies+in+experimental+allergic+encephalomyelitis+to+research+on+multiple+sclerosis.">How to successfully apply animal studies in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis to research on multiple sclerosis.</a> Ann Neurol. 60 (1), 12-21 (2006).</li><li>Khare, P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Myelin+oligodendrocyte+glycoprotein-specific+antibodies+from+multiple+sclerosis+patients+exacerbate+disease+in+a+humanized+mouse+model.">Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-specific antibodies from multiple sclerosis patients exacerbate disease in a humanized mouse model.</a> J Autoimmun. 86, 104-115 (2018).</li><li>Marta, C. B., Oliver, A. R., Sweet, R. A., Pfeiffer, S. E., Ruddle, N. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pathogenic+myelin+oligodendrocyte+glycoprotein+antibodies+recognize+glycosylated+epitopes+and+perturb+oligodendrocyte+physiology.">Pathogenic myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies recognize glycosylated epitopes and perturb oligodendrocyte physiology.</a> Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 102 (39), 13992-13997 (2005).</li><li>Flach, A. C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Autoantibody-boosted+t-cell+reactivation+in+the+target+organ+triggers+manifestation+of+autoimmune+cns+disease.">Autoantibody-boosted t-cell reactivation in the target organ triggers manifestation of autoimmune cns disease.</a> Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 113 (12), 3323-3328 (2016).</li><li>Didonna, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ataxin-1+regulates+b+cell+function+and+the+severity+of+autoimmune+experimental+encephalomyelitis.">Ataxin-1 regulates b cell function and the severity of autoimmune experimental encephalomyelitis.</a> Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 117 (38), 23742-23750 (2020).</li><li>Didonna, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Sex-specific+tau+methylation+patterns+and+synaptic+transcriptional+alterations+are+associated+with+neural+vulnerability+during+chronic+neuroinflammation.">Sex-specific tau methylation patterns and synaptic transcriptional alterations are associated with neural vulnerability during chronic neuroinflammation.</a> J Autoimmun. 101, 56-69 (2019).</li><li>Ma, Q., Matsunaga, A., Ho, B., Oksenberg, J. R., Didonna, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Oligodendrocyte-specific+argonaute+profiling+identifies+micrornas+associated+with+experimental+autoimmune+encephalomyelitis.">Oligodendrocyte-specific argonaute profiling identifies micrornas associated with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.</a> J Neuroinflammation. 17 (1), 297 (2020).</li><li>Lanz, T. V., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Clonally+expanded+b+cells+in+multiple+sclerosis+bind+ebv+ebna1+and+glialcam.">Clonally expanded b cells in multiple sclerosis bind ebv ebna1 and glialcam.</a> Nature. 603 (7900), 321-327 (2022).</li></ol>

Gli autori dichiarano di non avere interessi concorrenti.

Qui, è stato riportato un protocollo basato su ELISA semplice ed efficiente per quantificare accuratamente la risposta umorale in un modello animale rilevante di patologia della SM. Questo metodo è stato recentemente impiegato per descrivere il nuovo ruolo della proteina atassina-1 nel controllo dei livelli sierici di autoanticorpi nel paradigma EAE MOG35-55/C57BL6J12. A questo proposito, è necessario prendere in considerazione una serie di fattori, al fine di ottenere risultati coerenti e biol...

La sclerosi multipla (SM) è una malattia autoimmune cronica del sistema nervoso centrale (SNC) caratterizzata da infiltrazione focale di cellule immunitarie nel parenchima cerebrale, rottura delle guaine mieliniche che avvolgono gli assoni, attivazione della glia e perdita neuronale1. Oltre al ruolo ben consolidato delle cellule T patogene, molteplici linee di evidenza hanno evidenziato il coinvolgimento delle cellule B nella mediazione della risposta autoimmune contro il SNC. Le cellule B subiscono un'espansione clonale nel cervello della SM e sono stati rilevati anticorpi contro i componenti della mielina all'interno delle lesioni demieliniche 2,3. L'attivazione selettiva delle cellule B periferiche all'esordio della malattia è stata recentemente documentata, suggerendo un ruolo putativo per questo compartimento immunitario anche nell'inizio della malattia4. Il successo delle terapie che depleiscono le cellule B come gli anticorpi monoclonali anti-CD20 corrobora ulteriormente la connessione meccanicistica tra il funzionamento aberrante delle cellule B e la demielinizzazione autoimmune 5,6. Da un punto di vista molecolare, le cellule B possono contribuire alla malattia attraverso la presentazione di autoantigeni, la secrezione di citochine pro-infiammatorie e la produzione di anticorpi autoreattivi.
Sono stati sviluppati diversi modelli animali per ricapitolare caratteristiche specifiche del fenotipo complesso della SM. Tra questi, l'encefalomielite autoimmune sperimentale (EAE) è il paradigma più utilizzato in vivo e si basa sull'immunizzazione di animali da esperimento con peptidi corti derivati da proteine mieliniche come la glicoproteina oligodendrocitaria mielina (MOG) e la proteina basica della mielina (MBP)7. Gli animali immunizzati con EAE sviluppano una patologia demielinizzante che assomiglia alla SM in molti aspetti, inclusa una robusta risposta umorale contro il peptide encefalitogeno8. Per questo motivo, gli studi EAE sono stati determinanti per sezionare la funzione delle cellule B e degli autoanticorpi nel contesto della malattia. Ad esempio, è stato dimostrato che gli anticorpi specifici per MOG isolati da pazienti con SM possono aggravare il decorso clinico nei modelli EAE9. In particolare, il residuo di prolina in posizione 42 nel MOG umano si è dimostrato fondamentale per determinare la patogenicità degli autoanticorpi10. Più recentemente, è stato scoperto che gli autoanticorpi specifici per MOG promuovono la malattia non solo mediando la perdita di mielina, ma anche aumentando la riattivazione delle cellule T autoreattive all'interno del SNC11. 
Considerando l'importanza delle risposte anticorpali nell'autoimmunità del SNC, questo articolo presenta un protocollo basato su ELISA per misurare in modo efficiente i livelli sierici di anticorpi autoreattivi nei topi C57BL/6J EAE immunizzati con peptide MOG35-55. Nella prima parte del protocollo verrà descritto il metodo per raccogliere il siero tramite puntura intracardiaca. Successivamente verranno dettagliate le procedure per impostare il test ELISA e acquisire i dati. Infine, verranno discusse l'analisi e l'interpretazione dei dati.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>1 mL syringes</td>
			<td>BD Biosciences</td>
			<td>309628</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1.5 mL microcentrifuge tubes</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>05-408-129</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>25 G needles</td>
			<td>BD Biosciences</td>
			<td>305122</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>3,3&#39;,5,5&#39;-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) substrate</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>N301</td>
			<td>Store at 4 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Adhesive seals</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>AB0558</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bovine serum albumin (BSA)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>A7906</td>
			<td>Store at 4 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>C57BL/6J female mice</td>
			<td>The Jackson Laboratory</td>
			<td>000664</td>
			<td>Animals between 8-10 weeks of age should be used for EAE experiments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cryogenic tubes</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>10-500-25</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dissection tray</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>S111022</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dissector scissors</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>14082-09</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ELISA coating buffer</td>
			<td>BioLegend</td>
			<td>421701</td>
			<td>Store at 4&#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Excel software</td>
			<td>Microsoft</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Analysis spreadsheet</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Forceps</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>11152-10</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Goat Anti-Mouse IgG, Human ads-HRP</td>
			<td>SouthernBiotech</td>
			<td>1030-05</td>
			<td>Store at 4 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>LED light source</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>AMPSILED21</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microplate reader</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>14-377-575&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Molecular biology grade water</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>46-000-Cl</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mouse MOG35-55 peptide</td>
			<td>EZBiolab</td>
			<td>cp7203</td>
			<td>Store at -80 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Multichannel pipette</td>
			<td>Axygen</td>
			<td>AP-12-200-P</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Noyes spring scissors</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>15011-12</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nunc MaxiSorp 96-well plates</td>
			<td>BioLegend</td>
			<td>423501</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Orbital shaker</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>88-861-023</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Oven</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>445-0024</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phosphate buffer saline (PBS)</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>14190144</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Refrigerated tabletop centrifuge</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>75002441</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Stop solution</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>N600</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tween 20</td>
			<td>Bio-Rad</td>
			<td>1706531</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

quantification of autoreactive antibodies in mice upon experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

L'encefalomielite autoimmune sperimentale (EAE) è un modello di malattia che ricapitola la malattia autoimmune della sclerosi multipla (SM) a livello istopatologico e molecolare. L'EAE è indotto dall'immunizzazione di animali da esperimento tramite iniezione sottocutanea di peptidi di mielina corta insieme a coadiuvanti specifici per aumentare la risposta immunitaria. Come la controparte umana, i topi EAE sviluppano lesioni demielinizzanti, infiltrazione di cellule immunitarie nel sistema nervoso centrale (SNC), attivazione della glia e danno neuronale. Un corpo coerente di prove supporta anche un ruolo meccanicistico per la disfunzione delle cellule B nell'eziologia sia della SM che dell'EAE. Le cellule B possono fungere da cellule presentanti l'antigene e da fonte primaria di citochine pro-infiammatorie e autoanticorpi. Nell'EAE, vengono generati anticorpi contro i peptidi mielinici che sono stati impiegati per indurre la malattia. È stato dimostrato che tali autoanticorpi mediano la perdita di mielina o la riattivazione delle cellule T patogene nel SNC. Questo articolo descrive un efficiente protocollo basato su ELISA per quantificare gli autoanticorpi nel siero di topi C57BL/6J immunizzati con il peptide della glicoproteina 35-55 degli oligodendrociti mielinici (MOG35-55). Il metodo proposto funge da potente strumento per studiare la specificità e l'entità della risposta umorale aberrante nel contesto della demielinizzazione autoimmune.

Per dimostrare la robustezza del presente test ELISA, il metodo è stato testato su campioni di siero isolati da una coorte di topi femmina C57BL/6J a 20 giorni dopo l'immunizzazione (dpi) con 100 μg di peptide MOG35-55 nell'adiuvante di Freund completo (CFA) seguendo un protocollo di induzione EAE convalidato 12,13,14. Gli animali hanno anche ricevuto 400 ng di tossina della pertosse nei giorni 0 e 2. I campioni di siero di an...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Quantification of Autoreactive Antibodies in Mice upon Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis at JoVE.com

Autore in primo piano: Nuovo test per lo studio delle risposte delle cellule B nella ricerca sulla sclerosi multipla

L'encefalomielite autoimmune sperimentale (EAE) è un modello animale di sclerosi multipla (SM), che condivide con la malattia umana una robusta risposta autoimmune umorale. Qui, riportiamo un protocollo ELISA semplice e flessibile per quantificare gli autoanticorpi nel siero di topi immunizzati con EAE.

Quantificazione degli anticorpi autoreattivi nei topi dopo encefalomielite autoimmune sperimentale

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a disease model that recapitulates the autoimmune disorder multiple sclerosis (MS) at histopathological ...

Quindi l'obiettivo del nostro laboratorio è comprendere le basi molecolari della sclerosi multipla, una malattia immunitaria del sistema nervoso centrale caratterizzata da demielinizzazione, neuroinfiammazione e danno assonale. Questo protocollo rappresenta quindi un'alternativa economica e flessibile ai kit commerciali. Il nostro può essere facilmente regolato per testare le risposte anticorpali delle cellule B contro diversi peptidi EEA.Il mio laboratorio è dedicato a comprendere ulteriormente la connessione tra neuroinfiammazione e neurodegenerazione nelle malattie neurologiche croniche come la sclerosi multipla.

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Research

JoVE Journal

Immunology and Infection

Quantification of Autoreactive Antibodies in Mice upon Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

537 Views.  East Carolina University. Quindi l'obiettivo del nostro laboratorio è comprendere le basi molecolari della sclerosi multipla, una malattia immunitaria del sistema nervoso centrale caratterizzata da demielinizzazione, neuroinfiammazione e danno assonale. Questo protocollo rappresenta quindi un'alternativa economica e flessibile ai kit commerciali. Il nostro può essere facilmente regolato per testare le risposte anticorpali delle cellule B contro diversi peptidi EEA.Il mio laboratorio è dedicato a comprendere ...

Video: Autore in primo piano: Nuovo test per lo studio delle risposte delle cellule B nella ricerca sulla sclerosi multipla

Induction of Experimental Autoimmune Hypophysitis in SJL Mice

Autoimmune hypophysitis can be reproduced experimentally by the injection of pituitary proteins mixed with an adjuvant into susceptible mice1. Mouse models allow us to study how diseases unfold, often providing a good replica of the same processes occurring in humans. For some autoimmune diseases, like type 1A diabetes, there are models (the NOD mouse) that spontaneously develop a disease similar to the human counterpart. For many other autoimmune diseases, however, the model needs to be induced experimentally. A common approach in this regard is to inject the mouse with a dominant antigen derived from the organ being studied. For example, investigators interested in autoimmune thyroiditis inject mice with thyroglobulin2, and those interested in myasthenia gravis inject them with the acetylcholine receptor3. If the autoantigen for a particular autoimmune disease is not known, investigators inject a crude protein extract from the organ targeted by the autoimmune reaction. For autoimmune hypophysitis, the pathogenic autoantigen(s) remain to be identified4, and thus a crude pituitary protein preparation is used. In this video article we demonstrate how to induce experimental autoimmune hypophysitis in SJL mice.

This video shows how to induce autoimmune hypophysitis in SJL mice and how to assess its severity by histopathology.

Induzione di ipofisite autoimmune sperimentale nei topi SJL

Autoimmune hypophysitis can be reproduced experimentally by the injection of pituitary proteins mixed with an adjuvant into susceptible mice1. Mouse ...

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Immunologia e infezioni

Overcoming Unresponsiveness in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) Resistant Mouse Strains by Adoptive Transfer and Antigenic Challenge

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) and has been used as an animal model for study of the human demyelinating disease, multiple sclerosis (MS). EAE is characterized by pathologic infiltration of mononuclear cells into the CNS and by clinical manifestation of paralytic disease. Similar to MS, EAE is also under genetic control in that certain mouse strains are susceptible to disease induction while others are resistant. Typically, C57BL/6 (H-2b) mice immunized with myelin basic protein (MBP) fail to develop paralytic signs. This unresponsiveness is certainly not due to defects in antigen processing or antigen presentation of MBP, as an experimental protocol described here had been used to induce severe EAE in C57BL/6 mice as well as other reputed resistant mouse strains. In addition, encephalitogenic T cell clones from C57BL/6 and Balb/c mice reactive to MBP had been successfully isolated and propagated.
The experimental protocol involves using a cellular adoptive transfer system in which MBP-primed (200 &mu;g/mouse) C57BL/6 donor lymph node cells are isolated and cultured for five days with the antigen to expand the pool of MBP-specific T cells. At the end of the culture period, 50 million viable cells are transferred into naive syngeneic recipients through the tail vein. Recipient mice so treated normally do not develop EAE, thus reaffirming their resistant status, and they can remain normal indefinitely. Ten days post cell transfer, recipient mice are challenged with complete Freund adjuvant (CFA)-emulsified MBP in four sites in the flanks. Severe EAE starts to develop in these mice ten to fourteen days after challenge. Results showed that the induction of disease was antigenic specific as challenge with irrelevant antigens did not induce clinical signs of disease. Significantly, a titration of the antigen dose used to challenge the recipient mice showed that it could be as low as 5 &mu;g/mouse. In addition, a kinetic study of the timing of antigenic challenge showed that challenge to induce disease was effective as early as 5 days post antigenic challenge and as long as over 445 days post antigenic challenge. These data strongly point toward the involvement of a "long-lived" T cell population in maintaining unresponsiveness. The involvement of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in this system is not defined.

Overcoming Unresponsiveness in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis EAE Resistant Mouse Strains by Adoptive Transfer and Antigenic Challenge

Certain mouse strains are able to resist induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) with myelin basic protein. Described here is a simple immunization protocol that reverses the unresponsiveness and induces paralytic disease in several typical EAE resistant mouse stains.

Superare blocco nel encefalomielite autoimmune sperimentale (EAE) ceppi di topi resistenti dal trasferimento adottivo e uno stimolo antigenico

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) and has been used as an animal model for ...

Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein (MOG35-55) Induced Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) in C57BL/6 Mice

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic neuroinflammatory demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system with a strong neurodegenerative component. While the exact etiology of the disease is yet unclear, autoreactive T lymphocytes are thought to play a central role in its pathophysiology. MS therapy is only partially effective so far and research efforts continue to expand our knowledge on the pathophysiology of the disease and to develop novel treatment strategies. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is the most common animal model for MS sharing many clinical and pathophysiological features. There is a broad diversity of EAE models which reflect different clinical, immunological and histological aspects of human MS. Actively-induced EAE in mice is the easiest inducible model with robust and replicable results. It is especially suited for investigating the effects of drugs or of particular genes by using transgenic mice challenged by autoimmune neuroinflammation. Therefore, mice are immunized with CNS homogenates or peptides of myelin proteins. Due to the low immunogenic potential of these peptides, strong adjuvants are used. EAE susceptibility and phenotype depends on the chosen antigen and rodent strain. C57BL/6 mice are the commonly used strain for transgenic mouse construction and respond among others to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG). The immunogenic epitope MOG35-55 is suspended in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) prior to immunization and pertussis toxin is applied on the day of immunization and two days later. Mice develop a "classic" self-limited monophasic EAE with ascending flaccid paralysis within 9-14 days after immunization. Mice are evaluated daily using a clinical scoring system for 25-50 days. Special considerations for care taking of animals with EAE as well as potential applications and limitations of this model are discussed.

Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein MOG35-55 Induced Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis EAE in C57BL/6 Mice

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an established animal model of multiple sclerosis. C57BL/6 mice are immunized with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) peptide 35-55 (MOG35-55), resulting in an ascending flaccid paralysis caused by autoreactive immune cells in the central nervous system. Protocols for disease induction and monitoring will be discussed.

Mielina Oligodendrocyte glicoproteina (MOG<sub&gt; 35-55</sub&gt;) Indotta encefalomielite autoimmune sperimentale (EAE) in C57BL / 6 Mice

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic neuroinflammatory demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system with a strong neurodegenerative component. While ...

Induction of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Mice and Evaluation of the Disease-dependent Distribution of Immune Cells in Various Tissues

Multiple sclerosis is presumed to be an inflammatory autoimmune disease, which is characterized by lesion formation in the central nervous system (CNS) resulting in cognitive and motor impairment. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a useful animal model of MS, because it is also characterized by lesion formation in the CNS, motor impairment and is also driven by autoimmune and inflammatory reactions. One of the EAE models is induced with a peptide derived from the myelin oligodendrocyte protein (MOG)35-55 in mice. The EAE mice develop a progressive disease course. This course is divided into three phases: the preclinical phase (day 0 - 9), the disease onset (day 10 - 11) and the acute phase (day 12 - 14). MS and EAE are induced by autoreactive T cells that infiltrate the CNS. These T cells secrete chemokines and cytokines which lead to the recruitment of further immune cells. Therefore, the immune cell distribution in the spinal cord during the three disease phases was investigated. To highlight the time point of the disease at which the activation/proliferation/accumulation of T cells, B cells and monocytes starts, the immune cell distribution in lymph nodes, spleen and blood was also assessed. Furthermore, the levels of several cytokines (IL-1&#946;, IL-6, IL-23, TNF&#945;, IFN&#947;) in the three disease phases were determined, to gain insight into the inflammatory processes of the disease. In conclusion, the data provide an overview of the functional profile of immune cells during EAE pathology.

This manuscript describes the methods for induction and scoring of the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model, together with the assessment of immune cell distribution and mRNA cytokine levels in lymph nodes, spleen, blood and spinal cord using flow cytometry and quantitative PCR, respectively, at various disease phases.

Induzione di encefalomielite autoimmune sperimentale nei topi e valutazione della distribuzione delle malattie-dipendente delle cellule immunitarie in vari tessuti

Multiple sclerosis is presumed to be an inflammatory autoimmune disease, which is characterized by lesion formation in the central nervous system (CNS) ...

Simple and Efficient Production and Purification of Mouse Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein for Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Studies

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS), thought to occur as a result of autoimmune responses targeting myelin. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is the most common animal model of CNS autoimmune disease, and is typically induced via immunization with short peptides representing immunodominant CD4+ T cell epitopes of myelin proteins. However, B cells recognize unprocessed protein directly, and immunization with short peptide does not activate B cells that recognize the native protein. As recent clinical trials of B cell-depleting therapies in MS have suggested a role for B cells in driving disease in humans, there is an urgent need for animal models that incorporate B cell-recognition of autoantigen. To this end, we have generated a new fusion protein containing the extracellular domain of the mouse version of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) as well as N-terminal fusions of a His-tag for purification purposes and the thioredoxin protein to improve solubility (MOGtag). A tobacco etch virus (TEV) protease cleavage site was incorporated to allow the removal of all tag sequences, leaving only the pure MOG1-125 extracellular domain. Here, we describe a simple protocol using only standard laboratory equipment to produce large quantities of pure MOGtag or MOG1-125. This protocol consistently generates over 200 mg of MOGtag protein. Immunization with either MOGtag or MOG1-125 generates an autoimmune response that includes pathogenic B cells that recognize the native mouse MOG.

We describe a simple protocol using only basic lab equipment to generate and purify large quantities of a fusion protein that contains mouse Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein. This protein can be used to induce experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis driven by both T and B cells.

Produzione semplici ed efficaci e Purificazione di topo mielina Oligodendrocyte glicoproteina di encefalomielite autoimmune sperimentale Studi

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS), thought to occur as a result of autoimmune responses ...

Visualizing Impairment of the Endothelial and Glial Barriers of the Neurovascular Unit during Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis In Vivo

The neurovascular unit (NVU) is composed of microvascular endothelial cells forming the blood-brain barrier (BBB), an endothelial basement membrane with embedded pericytes, and the glia limitans composed by the parenchymal basement membrane and astrocytic end-feed embracing the abluminal aspect of central nervous system (CNS) microvessels. In addition to maintaining CNS homeostasis the NVU controls immune cell trafficking into the CNS. During immunosurveillance of the CNS low numbers of activated lymphocytes can cross the endothelial barrier without causing BBB dysfunction or clinical disease. In contrast, during neuroinflammation such as in multiple sclerosis or its animal model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) a large number of immune cells can cross the BBB and subsequently the glia limitans eventually reaching the CNS parenchyma leading to clinical disease. 
Immune cell migration into the CNS parenchyma is thus a two-step process that involves a sequential migration across the endothelial and glial barrier of the NVU employing distinct molecular mechanisms. If following their passage across the endothelial barrier, T cells encounter their cognate antigen on perivascular antigen-presenting cells their local reactivation will initiate subsequent mechanisms leading to the focal activation of gelatinases, which will enable the T cells to cross the glial barrier and enter the CNS parenchyma. Thus, assessing both, BBB permeability and MMP activity in spatial correlation to immune cell accumulation in the CNS during EAE allows to specify loss of integrity of the endothelial and glial barriers of the NVU. 
We here show how to induce EAE in C57BL/6 mice by active immunization and how to subsequently analyze BBB permeability in vivo using a combination of exogenous fluorescent tracers. We further show, how to visualize and localize gelatinase activity in EAE brains by in situ zymogaphy coupled to immunofluorescent stainings of BBB basement membranes and CD45+ invading immune cells.

Here, we present protocols to investigate impairment of the neurovascular unit during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in vivo. We specifically address how to determine blood-brain barrier permeability and gelatinase activity involved in leukocyte migration across the glia limitans.&#160;

Visualizzazione di danno delle barriere endoteliali e gliali dell'unità neurovascolare durante l'encefalomielite Autoimmune Sperimentale In Vivo

The neurovascular unit (NVU) is composed of microvascular endothelial cells forming the blood-brain barrier (BBB), an endothelial basement membrane with ...

Adoptive Immunotherapy of iNKT Cells in Glucose-6-Phosphate Isomerase (G6PI)-Induced RA Mice

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease. The pathogenesis of the disease is related to invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells. Patients with active RA present fewer iNKT cells, defective cell function, and excessive polarization of Th1. In this study, an RA animal model was established using a mixture of hGPI325-339 and hGPI469-483 peptides. The iNKT cells were obtained by in vivo induction and in vitro purification, followed by infusion into RA mice for adoptive immunotherapy. The in vivo imaging system (IVIS) tracking revealed that iNKT cells were mainly distributed in the spleen and liver. On day 12 after cell therapy, the disease progression slowed down significantly, the clinical symptoms were alleviated, the abundance of iNKT cells in the thymus increased, the proportion of iNKT1 in the thymus decreased, and the levels of TNF-&#945;, IFN-&#947;, and IL-6 in the serum decreased. Adoptive immunotherapy of iNKT cells restored the balance of immune cells and corrected the excessive inflammation of the body.

Adoptive Immunotherapy of iNKT Cells in Glucose-6-Phosphate Isomerase G6PI-Induced RA Mice

This protocol uses G6PI mixed peptides to construct rheumatoid arthritis models that are closer to that of human rheumatoid arthritis in CD4+ T cells and cytokines. High purity invariant natural killer T cells (mainly iNKT2) with specific phenotypes and functions were obtained by in vivo induction and in vitro purification for adoptive immunotherapy.

Immunoterapia adottiva delle cellule iNKT in isomerasi indotta da glucosio (G6PI)

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease. The pathogenesis of the disease is related to invariant natural killer T ...

Flow Cytometric Analysis of Lymphocyte Infiltration in Central Nervous System during Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) caused by the combination of environmental factors and susceptible genetic background. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a typical disease model of MS widely used for investigating the pathogenesis in which T lymphocytes specific for myelin antigens initiate an inflammatory reaction in CNS. It is very important to assess how lymphocytes in the CNS regulate the development of disease. However, the approach for measuring the quantity and quality of infiltrated lymphocytes in the CNS is very limited due to the difficulties in isolating and detecting infiltrated lymphocytes from the brain. This manuscript presents a protocol for that is useful for the isolation, identification, and characterization of infiltrated lymphocytes from the CNS and will be helpful for our understanding of how lymphocytes are involved in the development of the CNS autoimmune disease.

This manuscript presents a protocol to induce active experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mice. A method for the isolation and characterization of the infiltrated lymphocytes in the central nervous system (CNS) is also presented to show how lymphocytes are involved in the development of CNS autoimmune disease.

Analisi citometrica del flusso dell'infiltrazione di linfociti nel sistema nervoso centrale durante l'encefalomielite autoimmune sperimentale

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) caused by the combination of environmental factors and susceptible ...

A Rapid, Simple, and Standardized Homogenization Method to Prepare Antigen/Adjuvant Emulsions for Inducing Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) shares similar immunological and clinical features with multiple sclerosis (MS), and is therefore widely used as a model to identify new drug targets for better patient treatment. MS is characterized by several different disease courses: relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), primary progressive MS (PPMS), secondary progressive MS (SPMS), and a rare progressive-relapsing form of MS (PRMS). Although animal models do not accurately mimic all of these contrasting human disease phenotypes, there are EAE models that reflect some of the different clinical manifestations of MS. For example, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-induced EAE in C57BL/6J mice mimics human PPMS, while myelin proteolipid protein (PLP)-induced EAE in SJL/J mice resembles RRMS. Other autoantigens, such as myelin basic protein (MBP), and a number of different mouse strains are also used to study EAE. To induce disease in these autoantigen-immunization EAE models, a water-in-oil emulsion is prepared and injected subcutaneously. The majority of EAE models also require an injection of pertussis toxin for the disease to develop. For consistent and reproducible EAE induction, a detailed protocol to prepare the reagents to produce antigen/adjuvant emulsions is necessary. The method described here takes advantage of a standardized method to generate water-in-oil emulsions. It is simple and fast and uses a shaking homogenizer instead of syringes to prepare quality-controlled emulsions.

To induce experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an animal model of multiple sclerosis, mice are immunized with a water-in-oil emulsion containing an autoantigen and complete Freund's adjuvant. While several protocols exist for the preparation of these emulsions, a rapid, simple, and standardized homogenization protocol for emulsion preparation is presented here.

Un metodo di omogeneizzazione rapido, semplice e standardizzato per preparare emulsioni antigene/adiuvanti per indurre l'encefalomielite autoimmune sperimentale

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) shares similar immunological and clinical features with multiple sclerosis (MS), and is therefore widely ...

Potenziamento dell'immunogenicità da parte di Mycobacterium paratuberculosis nell'encefalomielite autoimmune

Adjuvant Activity of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis in Enhancing the Immunogenicity of Autoantigens During Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced by myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) requires immunization by a MOG peptide emulsified in complete Freund&#39;s adjuvant (CFA) containing inactivated Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The antigenic components of the mycobacterium activate dendritic cells to stimulate T-cells to produce cytokines that promote the Th1 response via toll-like receptors. Therefore, the amount and species of mycobacteria present during the antigenic challenge are directly related to the development of EAE. This methods paper presents an alternative protocol to induce EAE in C57BL/6 mice using a modified incomplete Freund&#39;s adjuvant containing the heat-killed Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis strain K-10.
M. paratuberculosis, a member of the Mycobacterium avium complex, is the causative agent of Johne&#39;s disease in ruminants and has been identified as a risk factor for several human T-cell-mediated disorders, including multiple sclerosis. Overall, mice immunized with Mycobacterium paratuberculosis showed earlier onset and greater disease severity than mice immunized with CFA containing the strain of M. tuberculosis H37Ra at the same doses of 4 mg/mL. The antigenic determinants of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP)&#160;strain K-10 were able to induce a strong Th1 cellular response during the effector phase, characterized by significantly higher numbers of T-lymphocytes (CD4+ CD27+), dendritic cells (CD11c+ I-A/I-E+), and monocytes (CD11b+ CD115+) in the spleen compared to mice immunized with CFA. Furthermore, the proliferative T-cell response to the MOG peptide appeared to be highest in M. paratuberculosis-immunized mice. The use of an encephalitogen (e.g., MOG35-55) emulsified in an adjuvant containing M. paratuberculosis in the formulation may be an alternative and validated method to activate dendritic cells for priming myelin epitope-specific CD4+ T-cells during the induction phase of EAE.

Autore in primo piano: Attività adiuvante del Mycobacterium paratuberculosis nel migliorare l'immunogenicità degli autoantigeni durante l'encefalomielite autoimmune sperimentale  

Here, we present an alternative protocol to actively induce experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in C57BL/6 mice, using the immunogenic epitope myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)35-55 suspended in incomplete Freund's adjuvant containing the heat-killed Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis.

Attività adiuvante del Mycobacterium paratuberculosis nel migliorare l'immunogenicità degli autoantigeni durante l'encefalomielite autoimmune sperimentale

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced by myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) requires immunization by a MOG peptide emulsified in ...