Name: visualizing impairment of the endothelial and glial barriers of the neurovascular unit during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in vivo
Uploaded: 2019-03-26T13:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Visualizing Impairment of the Endothelial and Glial Barriers of the Neurovascular Unit during Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis In Vivo at JoVE.com

We gratefully acknowledge Lydia Sorokin, who has shared her original in situ zymography protocol10 with us.&#160;

All studies were conducted under the guidelines according to the Swiss legislation on the protection of animals and were approved by the Veterinary Office of the Canton of Bern, Switzerland (permission numbers: BE 31/17 and BE 77/18).
1. Housing of C57BL/6 mice in specific pathogen free (SPF) conditions
<ol>
	<li>House mice in individual ventilated cages with a 12/12 h light-dark cycle. Provide food and water ad libidum.&#160;To supervise microbiological quality of the mice, the experimental...

<ol>
	<li>Tietz, S., Engelhardt, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Brain+barriers:+Crosstalk+between+complex+tight+junctions+and+adherens+junctions.">Brain barriers: Crosstalk between complex tight junctions and adherens junctions.</a> Journal of Cell Biology. 209, 493-506 (2015).</li><li>Wu, 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=Endothelial+basement+membrane+laminin+alpha5+selectively+inhibits+T+lymphocyte+extravasation+into+the+brain.">Endothelial basement membrane laminin alpha5 selectively inhibits T lymphocyte extravasation into the brain.</a> Nature Medicine. 15, 519-527 (2009).</li><li>Hannocks, M. J., 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=Molecular+characterization+of+perivascular+drainage+pathways+in+the+murine+brain.">Molecular characterization of perivascular drainage pathways in the murine brain.</a> Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow &amp; Metabolism. 38, 669-686 (2018).</li><li>Kermode, A. G., 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=Breakdown+of+the+blood-brain+barrier+precedes+symptoms+and+other+MRI+signs+of+new+lesions+in+multiple+sclerosis.+Pathogenetic+and+clinical+implications.">Breakdown of the blood-brain barrier precedes symptoms and other MRI signs of new lesions in multiple sclerosis. Pathogenetic and clinical implications.</a> Brain. 113 (Pt 5), 1477-1489 (1990).</li><li>Tommasin, S., Gianni, C., De Giglio, L., Pantano, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neuroimaging+techniques+to+assess+inflammation+in+Multiple+Sclerosis.">Neuroimaging techniques to assess inflammation in Multiple Sclerosis.</a> Neuroscience. , (2017).</li><li>Lopes Pinheiro, M. 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I., 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=Visualizing+context-dependent+calcium+signaling+in+encephalitogenic+T+cells+in+vivo+by+two-photon+microscopy.">Visualizing context-dependent calcium signaling in encephalitogenic T cells in vivo by two-photon microscopy.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 114, E6381-E6389 (2017).</li><li>Lodygin, D., 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=A+combination+of+fluorescent+NFAT+and+H2B+sensors+uncovers+dynamics+of+T+cell+activation+in+real+time+during+CNS+autoimmunity.">A combination of fluorescent NFAT and H2B sensors uncovers dynamics of T cell activation in real time during CNS autoimmunity.</a> Nature Medicine. 19, 784-790 (2013).</li><li>Agrawal, S., 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=Dystroglycan+is+selectively+cleaved+at+the+parenchymal+basement+membrane+at+sites+of+leukocyte+extravasation+in+experimental+autoimmune+encephalomyelitis.">Dystroglycan is selectively cleaved at the parenchymal basement membrane at sites of leukocyte extravasation in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.</a> Journal of Experimental Medicine. 203, 1007-1019 (2006).</li><li>Song, J., 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=Focal+MMP-2+and+MMP-9+activity+at+the+blood-brain+barrier+promotes+chemokine-induced+leukocyte+migration.">Focal MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity at the blood-brain barrier promotes chemokine-induced leukocyte migration.</a> Cell Reports. 10, 1040-1054 (2015).</li><li>Tietz, S., 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=Lack+of+junctional+adhesion+molecule+(JAM)-B+ameliorates+experimental+autoimmune+encephalomyelitis.">Lack of junctional adhesion molecule (JAM)-B ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.</a> Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 73, 3-20 (2018).</li><li>Mähler Convenor, M., Berard, M., Feinstein, R., Gallagher, A., Illgen-Wilcke, B., Pritchett-Corning, K., Raspa, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=FELASA+recommendations+for+the+health+monitoring+of+mouse,+rat,+hamster,+guinea+pig+and+rabbit+colonies+in+breeding+and+experimental+units.">FELASA recommendations for the health monitoring of mouse, rat, hamster, guinea pig and rabbit colonies in breeding and experimental units.</a> Lab Anim. 48 (3), 178-192 (2014).</li><li>Bittner, S., Afzali, A. M., Wiendl, H., Meuth, S. G. <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+(MOG35-55)+induced+experimental+autoimmune+encephalomyelitis+(EAE)+in+C57BL/6+mice.">Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG35-55) induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in C57BL/6 mice.</a> Journal of Visual Experiments. , (2014).</li><li>Tietz, S. M., 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=Refined+clinical+scoring+in+comparative+EAE+studies+does+not+enhance+the+chance+to+observe+statistically+significant+differences.">Refined clinical scoring in comparative EAE studies does not enhance the chance to observe statistically significant differences.</a> European Journal of Immunology. 46, 2481-2483 (2016).</li><li>Mendel, I., Kerlero de Rosbo, N., Ben-Nun, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+myelin+oligodendrocyte+glycoprotein+peptide+induces+typical+chronic+experimental+autoimmune+encephalomyelitis+in+H-2b+mice:+fine+specificity+and+T+cell+receptor+V+beta+expression+of+encephalitogenic+T+cells.">A myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide induces typical chronic experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in H-2b mice: fine specificity and T cell receptor V beta expression of encephalitogenic T cells.</a> European Journal of Immunology. 25, 1951-1959 (1995).</li><li>Miller, S. D., Karpus, W. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Experimental+autoimmune+encephalomyelitis+in+the+mouse.">Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in the mouse.</a> Current Protocols in Immunology. 15, (2007).</li><li>Sobel, R. A., Tuohy, V. K., Lu, Z. J., Laursen, R. A., Lees, M. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Acute+experimental+allergic+encephalomyelitis+in+SJL/J+mice+induced+by+a+synthetic+peptide+of+myelin+proteolipid+protein.">Acute experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in SJL/J mice induced by a synthetic peptide of myelin proteolipid protein.</a> Journal of Neuropathology &amp; Experimental Neurology. 49, 468-479 (1990).</li><li>Westarp, M. 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=T+lymphocyte+line-mediated+experimental+allergic+encephalomyelitis--a+pharmacologic+model+for+testing+of+immunosuppressive+agents+for+the+treatment+of+autoimmune+central+nervous+system+disease.">T lymphocyte line-mediated experimental allergic encephalomyelitis--a pharmacologic model for testing of immunosuppressive agents for the treatment of autoimmune central nervous system disease.</a> Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 242, 614-620 (1987).</li><li>Klotz, 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=B7-H1+shapes+T-cell-mediated+brain+endothelial+cell+dysfunction+and+regional+encephalitogenicity+in+spontaneous+CNS+autoimmunity.">B7-H1 shapes T-cell-mediated brain endothelial cell dysfunction and regional encephalitogenicity in spontaneous CNS autoimmunity.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 113, E6182-E6191 (2016).</li><li>Tietz, S. M., 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=MK2+and+Fas+receptor+contribute+to+the+severity+of+CNS+demyelination.">MK2 and Fas receptor contribute to the severity of CNS demyelination.</a> PLoS One. 9, e100363 (2014).</li><li>Coisne, C., Mao, W., Engelhardt, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cutting+edge:+Natalizumab+blocks+adhesion+but+not+initial+contact+of+human+T+cells+to+the+blood-brain+barrier+in+vivo+in+an+animal+model+of+multiple+sclerosis.">Cutting edge: Natalizumab blocks adhesion but not initial contact of human T cells to the blood-brain barrier in vivo in an animal model of multiple sclerosis.</a> Journal of Immunology. 182, 5909-5913 (2009).</li><li>Korner, H., 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=Critical+points+of+tumor+necrosis+factor+action+in+central+nervous+system+autoimmune+inflammation+defined+by+gene+targeting.">Critical points of tumor necrosis factor action in central nervous system autoimmune inflammation defined by gene targeting.</a> Journal of Experimental Medicine. 186, 1585-1590 (1997).</li><li>Krueger, M., 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=Blood-brain+barrier+breakdown+involves+four+distinct+stages+of+vascular+damage+in+various+models+of+experimental+focal+cerebral+ischemia.">Blood-brain barrier breakdown involves four distinct stages of vascular damage in various models of experimental focal cerebral ischemia.</a> Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow &amp; Metabolism. 35, 292-303 (2015).</li><li>Hawkins, B. T., Egleton, R. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fluorescence+imaging+of+blood-brain+barrier+disruption.">Fluorescence imaging of blood-brain barrier disruption.</a> Journal of Neuroscience Methods. 151, 262-267 (2006).</li><li>Graesser, D., 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=Altered+vascular+permeability+and+early+onset+of+experimental+autoimmune+encephalomyelitis+in+PECAM-1-deficient+mice.">Altered vascular permeability and early onset of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in PECAM-1-deficient mice.</a> Journal of Clinical Investigation. 109, 383-392 (2002).</li><li>Engelhardt, B., Sorokin, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+blood-brain+and+the+blood-cerebrospinal+fluid+barriers:+function+and+dysfunction.">The blood-brain and the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barriers: function and dysfunction.</a> Seminars in Immunopathology. 31, 497-511 (2009).</li><li>Owens, T., Bechmann, I., Engelhardt, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Perivascular+spaces+and+the+two+steps+to+neuroinflammation.">Perivascular spaces and the two steps to neuroinflammation.</a> Journal of Neuropathology &amp; Experimental Neurology. 67, 1113-1121 (2008).</li><li>Sixt, M., 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=Endothelial+cell+laminin+isoforms,+laminins+8+and+10,+play+decisive+roles+in+T+cell+recruitment+across+the+blood-brain+barrier+in+experimental+autoimmune+encephalomyelitis.">Endothelial cell laminin isoforms, laminins 8 and 10, play decisive roles in T cell recruitment across the blood-brain barrier in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.</a> Journal of Cell Biology. 153, 933-946 (2001).</li><li>Grewal, I. S., 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=CD62L+is+required+on+effector+cells+for+local+interactions+in+the+CNS+to+cause+myelin+damage+in+experimental+allergic+encephalomyelitis.">CD62L is required on effector cells for local interactions in the CNS to cause myelin damage in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.</a> Immunity. 14, 291-302 (2001).</li></ol>

Here, we present a protocol to induce and monitor EAE in female C57BL/6 mice. Females are preferentially chosen, and there is a incidence of women : men of 3:1 in MS. To assess the severity of EAE, we made use of a 3-point scoring sheet. EAE severity is generally scored with respect to the severity of motor dysfunctions. Mice with advanced stages of EAE, i.e. exhibiting a score above 2 should be sacrificed to avoid unnecessary suffering of the animals. Thus, it is recommended to score the mice at close intervals e.g. twi...

The central nervous system (CNS) coordinates all body and mental functions in vertebrates, and CNS homeostasis is essential for a proper communication of neurons. CNS homeostasis is warranted by the neurovascular unit (NVU), which protects the CNS from the changing milieu of the blood stream. The NVU is composed of CNS microvascular endothelial cells, which are biochemically unique and establish the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in continuous crosstalk with pericytes, astrocytes, neurons, and extracellular matrix (ECM) components, establishing two distinct basement membranes1. The endothelial basement membrane that ensheathes the abluminal aspect of the BBB endothelial cells harbors a high number of pericytes and is composed of laminin &#945;4 and laminin &#945;5, in addition to other ECM proteins2. In contrast, the parenchymal basement membrane consists of laminin &#945;1 and laminin &#945;2 and is embraced by astrocytic end-feet. The parenchymal basement membrane together with the astrocyte end-feet composes the glia limitans that segregates the CNS neuronal network from the cerebrospinal fluid filled perivascular or subarachnoid spaces3. Due to the unique architecture of the NVU, immune cell trafficking into the CNS is distinct from that into peripheral tissues as it requires a two-step process with the immune cells, first breaching the endothelial BBB and subsequently the glia limitans in order to reach the CNS parenchyma.&#160;
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common neuroinflammatory disease of the CNS, in which a large number of circulating immune cells enter the CNS and cause neuroinflammation, demyelination, and focal loss of BBB integrity4. Loss of BBB integrity is an early hallmark of MS, as indicated by the presence of gadolinium contrast enhancing lesions in the CNS as visualized by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)5. Leukocyte extravasation into the CNS occurs at the level of postcapillary venules; however, the precise mechanisms involved in immune cell diapedesis across the BBB basement membrane and subsequently the glial barrier remain to be explored. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) serves as an animal model for MS and has significantly contributed to our current knowledge about MS pathogenesis. For instance, using the EAE model it has been discovered that leukocyte extravasation occurs in a multistep process, including an initial capture and rolling step mediated by selectins and mucin-like molecules such as P-selectin glycoprotein ligand (PSGL)-1, followed by integrin-dependent firm arrest and crawling of T cells on BBB endothelial cells to permissive sides for diapedesis6.&#160;
Once T cells have crossed the endothelial BBB and the endothelial basement membrane, they need to encounter their cognate antigen on macrophages or dendritic cells strategically localized in the leptomeningeal or perivascular spaces. This interaction induces focal production of pro-inflammatory mediators that trigger the subsequent mechanisms required for CNS tissue invasion of immune cells via the glia limitans7,8,9. Focal activation of matrix-metalloproteinases (MMP) -2 and MMP-9 alters chemokine activation and induces degradation of extracellular matrix receptors on astrocyte end-feet, which is a prerequisite for immune cell migration across the glia limitans into the CNS parenchyma and to induce the onset of clinical symptoms of EAE10,11.&#160;
Combining detection of CNS infiltrating immune cell with BBB leakage and gelatinase activity in CNS tissue sections provides valuable information about the functional integrity of the endothelial and glial barrier in the context of neuroinflammation. For instance, we recently investigated the constitutive loss of the endothelial tight junction molecule junctional adhesion molecule (JAM)-B in immune cell trafficking into the CNS in the context of EAE. Compared to healthy wild-type C57BL/6 mice, healthy JAM-B-deficient littermates showed no impairment of BBB integrity as shown by in vivo permeability assessment using endogenous as well as exogenous tracers12. In the context of EAE, JAM-B-deficient C57BL/6 mice showed ameliorated disease symptoms, which was associated with inflammatory cell trapping in the leptomeningeal and perivascular spaces12. To examine this phenomenon we applied in situ zymography, allowing identification of gelatinase activity in order to test if lack of gelatinase activity in JAM-B-deficient mice may be responsible for the reduced numbers of immune cells able to breach the glia limitans12.&#160;&#160;
Given the availability of different genetically modified mouse models lacking, e.g., different BBB tight junction molecules that might cause changes in BBB function, methodologies for investigating BBB integrity are important. In addition, newly developed drugs could impact on NVU barriers. Here we show how to induce EAE in C57BL/6 mice by active immunization with the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-peptide aa35-55 in complete Freund&#8217;s adjuvants. We then explain how to localize immune cell infiltration across the endothelial and glial barriers of the NVU and how to study in vivo endothelial and glial barrier integrity by in situ detection of exogenous tracers and gelatinase activity, respectively.&#160;&#160;

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr >
			<td >AMCA anti-rabbit antibody</td>
			<td >Jackson ImmunoResearch</td>
			<td >111-156-045</td>
			<td >Store at 4 &#176;C; protect from light</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Anti-CD45 Antibody (30F11)</td>
			<td >Pharmingen</td>
			<td >07-1401</td>
			<td >Store at 4 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Anti-Laminin Antibody</td>
			<td >DAKO</td>
			<td >Z0097</td>
			<td >Store at 4 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Breeding food</td>
			<td >e.g. PROVIMI KLIBA SA</td>
			<td >3336</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
			<tr >
			<td >Individually ventilated cages, Blue line Type II or III</td>
			<td >e.g. Tecniplast	</td>
			<td >1145T, 1285L</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>	
		<tr >
			<td >BSA fraction V</td>
			<td >Applichem</td>
			<td >A1391</td>
			<td >Store at 4 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Cold gelatine</td>
			<td >Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td >G 9391</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Coplin jar + rack</td>
			<td >e.g. Carl Roth GmbH + Co. KG</td>
			<td >H554.1; H552.1</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Cy3 anti-rat antibody</td>
			<td >Jackson ImmunoResearch</td>
			<td >111-156-144</td>
			<td >Store at 4 &#176;C; protect from light</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Cover slips 24 x 40 mm # 1</td>
			<td >e.g. Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td >85-0186-00</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Dextran Alexa Fluor 488 (10,000 MW)</td>
			<td >e.g. Molecular probes</td>
			<td >D22910</td>
			<td >Store at -20 &#176;C; protect from light</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Dextran Texas Red (3000 MW)</td>
			<td >Invitrogen</td>
			<td >D3328</td>
			<td >Store at -20 &#176;C; protect from light</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >EnzChek Gelatinase/Collagenase Assay Kit&#160;</td>
			<td >Thermo Fisher Scientific; EnzCheck</td>
			<td >E12055</td>
			<td >Store at -20 &#176;C; protect form light</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Female C57BL/6J mice (8-12 weeks)</td>
			<td >e.g. Janvier Labs</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td >Females, 8-12 weeks</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Freezing box for histology slides</td>
			<td >e.g. Carl Roth GmbH + Co. KG</td>
			<td >2285.1</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >18G x 1&#189;&#8217;&#8217; (1.2mm x 40mm) injection needle</td>
			<td >e.g. BD, BD Microlance 3</td>
			<td >304622</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >27G x &#190;&#8217;&#8217; &#8211; Nr. 20 (0.4mm x 19mm) injection needle</td>
			<td >e.g. BD, BD Microlance 3</td>
			<td >302200</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >30G x &#189;&#8217;&#8217; (0.3 mm x 13 mm) injection needle</td>
			<td >e.g. BD, BD Microlance 3</td>
			<td >304000</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Incomplete Freund&#8217;s adjuvant (IFA)</td>
			<td >e.g. Santa Cruz Biotechnology</td>
			<td >sc-24648</td>
			<td >Store at 4&#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Maintenance food</td>
			<td >e.g. PROVIMI KLIBA SA</td>
			<td >3436</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >MOGaa35-55 peptide</td>
			<td >e.g. GenScript</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td >Store at -80 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >microscope slides (Superfrost Plus )</td>
			<td >Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td >J1800AMNZ</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37RA</td>
			<td >e.g. BD</td>
			<td >231141</td>
			<td >Store at 4 &#176;C&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >NaCl 0.9 %</td>
			<td >B. Braun</td>
			<td >3535789</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >O.C.T. compound (Tissue-Tek )</td>
			<td >Sakura</td>
			<td >4583</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Omnican 50 30G x &#189;&#8217;&#8217;</td>
			<td >B. Braun</td>
			<td >9151125S</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Paraformaldehyde</td>
			<td >Merck</td>
			<td >30525-89-4</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Pertussis toxin</td>
			<td >e.g. List biological laboratories, Inc.</td>
			<td >180</td>
			<td >Store at 4 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >poly(vinyl alcohole) (Mowiol 4-88)</td>
			<td >Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td >81381</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Protease Inhibitor EDTA free (Roche)</td>
			<td >Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td >4693132001</td>
			<td >Store at 4 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >repelling pen e.g. DAKO Pen</td>
			<td >e.g. DAKO</td>
			<td >S2002</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >sealing film e.g. Parafilm M</td>
			<td >e.g Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td >P7793</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Silica gel</td>
			<td >e.g. Carl Roth GmbH + Co. KG</td>
			<td >9351.1</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >Stitch scissor</td>
			<td >F.S.T</td>
			<td >15012-12</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >syringe 1 ml</td>
			<td >e.g. PRIMO</td>
			<td >62.1002</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >syringe 10 ml</td>
			<td >e.g. CODAN Medical ApS</td>
			<td >2022-05</td>
			<td ></td>
		</tr>
		<tr >
			<td >vaporizer system Univentor 400</td>
			<td >UNO.BV</td>
			<td ></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

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.

Assessment of the clinical course of EAE in C57BL/6 mice should result in a disease curve as depicted in Figure 2A and changes in the mouse body weight as presented in Figure 2B. C57BL/6 mice immunized with MOGaa35-55 usually start to develop disease symptoms around day 10-12 after active immunization (Figure 1A). Typically, immunized mice show a transient drop of body weight the day after the injection of the emulsion and the first...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Visualizing Impairment of the Endothelial and Glial Barriers of the Neurovascular Unit during Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis In Vivo at JoVE.com

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

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;

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

The methods presented here allow us to study the molecular mechanisms of immune cell migration across the brain barriers in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an animal model for multiple sclerosis. By investigating blood-brain barrier permeability and matrix-metalloprotease activity at the same time in spatial correlation to immune cell infiltration in brain tissue sections, we can precisely associate these neuroinflammatory events to the clinical signs of EAE. Professional handling of diseased mice needs in-depth training, as well as the correct scoring of the clinical signs of EAE.Thus, the visual demonstration is beneficial. Begin this procedure with anesthetization of C57-Black/6 mice that have been housed in specific-pathogen-free conditions as described in the text protocol. Fix the anesthetized mouse in one hand, and inject 30 microliters of MOG peptide and complete Freund's adjuvant emulsion subcutaneously into each of the hind leg flanks, in close proximity to the inguinal lymph nodes.Now, place the mouse on its belly, and inject 20 microliters of the MOG-peptide emulsion into the soft fatty tissue on both the left and right at the tail root. Also, inject a little droplet of the emulsion into the neck of the mouse. Inject 100 microliters of pertussis toxin solution intraperitoneally into the mouse.Hold the head of the mouse below the body center to avoid injection into the intestine. Replace the maintenance diet to the breeding diet in order to provide the mice with food of higher energy content before and during the expected clinical disease. Repeat the pertussis toxin injection 48 hours after the first treatment.Check the health status of EAE mice every morning by taking a look inside the cages. Score EAE mice every afternoon. Take every individual mouse included in the EAE experiment out of the cage, and check whether the tail has tonus.Move the tail upward with a finger. A healthy mouse will keep its tail up. If clinical EAE has started, the tail tonus will be lower, visible by a gradual drop of the tail.Eventually, the mouse will not be able to lift its tail at all. Place every individual mouse included in the EAE experiment on the clean bench to observe and document the walking behavior. See the text for scoring criteria for the assessment of disease severity, which is the EAE score.Assess and document the weight of every mouse included in the experiment. For preparing dextran stock solutions, dissolve 10 milligrams of three-kilodalton Dextran Texas Red in 500 microliters of 0.9%sodium chloride solution and five milligrams of 10-kilodalton Dextran Alexa Fluor 488 in 250 microliters of 0.9%sodium chloride solution. For the dextran working solution, just before injection, pipette 55 microliters of 10-kilodalton Dextran Alexa Fluor 488 stock solution onto a piece of sealing film.Then, add 55 microliters of three-kilodalton Dextran Texas Red stock solution. Mix and collect 100 microliters into a disposable fine syringe. Next, place an anesthetized mouse in the lateral position on the table.Intravenously inject 100 microliters of fluorescent tracers into the mouse before the mouse wakes up. Let the tracer circulate for 15 minutes before performing perfusion of mice as detailed in the text protocol. Fill a flat dewar container with crushed dry ice, and add 2-methylbutane until the liquid reaches about one centimeter above the dry ice pack.Cover with a loose lid, such as an ice bucket cover. After clipping off the head of the perfused mouse with sharp scissors, remove the skin and ears using a smaller set of scissors. Carefully dissect the skullcap by cutting from the foramen magnum towards the front at the left and the right side, to allow upfolding of the skullcap over the brain.Then, carefully lift out the intact brain from the base of the skull while severing the optical nerves using a flat metal spatula. Place the brain on aluminum foil. Cut the brain in three pieces by placing two coronal cuts.The three pieces represent the frontal brain, middle brain, and cerebellum with brain stem. Fill a Cryomold to the first quarter with optimum-temperature cutting matrix. Then, place the brain slices into the Cryomold, with the anterior side of each brain piece facing downwards.Cover the tissue completely with matrix. Place the Cryomold with the tissue in a horizontal orientation into the 2-methylbutane bath. Ensure that the tissue freezes from the bottom to the top within one minute by avoiding dipping the entire tissue block into the bath.Transfer the frozen tissue to minus 80 degrees Celsius for storage. See the text protocol for preparation of the frozen tissue sections. Retrieve six-micron, non-fixed brain tissue sections that had been prepared from EAE mice.In a fume hood, thaw the sections inside the plastic freezing box containing silica gel in the lid to avoid retention of water in the tissue. Separate two tissue sections on one slide by drawing lines with a water-repelling pen. Centrifuge reaction solutions for five minutes at 13, 300 times g at room temperature, and pre-warm to 37 degrees Celsius using a water bath.Then, rehydrate the tissue sections for five minutes at 37 degrees Celsius using 1X reaction buffer. After five minutes, pour off the 1X reaction buffer. Add reaction solution on the tissue sections, and incubate for four hours at 37 degrees Celsius.Then, wash the slides five times in double-distilled water. Now, fix the sections for five minutes with ice-cold methanol at minus 20 degrees Celsius before washing them once with PBS at room temperature. Add 1%BSA in PBS to the section, and incubate for 20 minutes at room temperature.Then, discard the buffer from the section by flipping the slide on a tissue. Add primary antibody cocktail to the section, and incubate for one hour at room temperature. After washing the sections twice with PBS, add secondary antibody cocktail, and incubate for one hour at room temperature.Then, wash the sections twice with PBS, and mount the slides with embedding solution. After letting the mounted sections dry overnight at room temperature, analyze stained tissue sections using a fluorescent microscope. The EAE disease severity increases until the peak of the disease, which can be expected between days 16 and 20 after EAE induction.At the peak of clinical EAE, mice also showed the lowest body weight, which increases in correlation to the amelioration of EAE in the remission phase of the disease. Shown here is a representative picture of the choroid plexus and the adjacent brain parenchyma of a C57-Black/6 mouse suffering from EAE. The mouse was intravenously injected 15 minutes before sacrificing.Tracers readily diffuse across the fenestrated microvessels into the stoma of the choroid plexus, while the blood-brain barrier does not allow the diffusion of circulating tracers into the brain parenchyma, which is thus devoid of any fluorescent signal. These images show representative leaky blood vessels in the cerebellum of a C57-Black/6 mouse suffering from EAE. Arrowheads indicate tracers diffused across the brain microvessels into the CNS parenchyma, suggesting that the blood-brain barrier function is impaired in these vessels.In the CNS parenchyma, green and red fluorescent signal is visible outside of the blood vessel walls. Correct subcutaneous placement of the MOG-CFA emulsion is essential to mount the appropriate immune response leading to EAE. Intraperitoneal and intramuscular injection should be avoided.Prepare CFA under a fume hood to avoid inhalation of the attenuated Mycobacterium. Also, avoid one's self-injection with the MOG-CFA emulsion, as this may cause condyloma or even lead to EAE in individuals that are genetically predisposed. Brain-infiltrating immune cells can be isolated from the CNS of mice suffering from EAE to quantify infiltrating immune cell subsets during neuroinflammation by flow cytometry.Assessing the integrity of the endothelial and the glial brain barriers can be translated to the analysis of genetically modified mouse models or to models of other neurological disorders.

visualizing-impairment-endothelial-glial-barriers-neurovascular-unit

Research

JoVE Journal

Immunology and Infection

Preparation of Mouse Pituitary Immunogen for the Induction of Experimental Autoimmune Hypophysitis

Autoimmune hypophysitis is a chronic inflammation of the pituitary gland caused or accompanied by autoimmunity1. It has traditionally been considered a rare disease but reporting has increased markedly in recent years. Hypophysitis, in fact, develops not uncommonly as a "side effect" in cancer patients treated with antibodies that block inhibitory receptors expressed on T lymphocytes, such as CTLA-42 and PD-1 receptors. Autoimmune hypophysitis can be induced experimentally by injecting mice with pituitary proteins mixed with an adjuvant3. In this video article we demonstrate how to extract proteins from mouse pituitary glands and how to prepare them in a form suitable for inducing autoimmune hypophysitis in SJL mice.

Autoimmune hypophysitis can be reproduced in mice by injecting an extract of mouse pituitary proteins.

Autoimmune hypophysitis is a chronic inflammation of the pituitary gland caused or accompanied by autoimmunity1.  It has traditionally been considered a ...

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Visualizing the Effects of Sputum on Biofilm Development Using a Chambered Coverglass Model

Biofilms consist of groups of bacteria encased in a self-secreted matrix. They play an important role in industrial contamination as well as in the development and persistence of many health related infections. One of the most well described and studied biofilms in human disease occurs in chronic pulmonary infection of cystic fibrosis patients. When studying biofilms in the context of the host, many factors can impact biofilm formation and development. In order to identify how host factors may affect biofilm formation and development, we used a static chambered coverglass method to grow biofilms in the presence of host-derived factors in the form of sputum supernatants. Bacteria are seeded into chambers and exposed to sputum filtrates. Following 48 hr of growth, biofilms are stained with a commercial biofilm viability kit prior to confocal microscopy and analysis. Following image acquisition, biofilm properties can be assessed using different software platforms. This method allows us to visualize key properties of biofilm growth in presence of different substances including antibiotics.

This protocol describes the visualization of biofilm development following exposure to host-factors using a slide chamber model. This model allows for direct visualization of biofilm development as well as analysis of biofilm parameters using computer software programs.

Biofilms consist of groups of bacteria encased in a self-secreted matrix. They play an important role in industrial contamination as well as in the ...

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.

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.

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

Immunogenicity Enhancement by &lt;em&gt;Mycobacterium paratuberculosis&lt;/em&gt; in Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

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.

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

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.

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

Investigating Humoral Response in Autoimmune Demyelination

Quantification of Autoreactive Antibodies in Mice upon Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a disease model that recapitulates the autoimmune disorder multiple sclerosis (MS) at histopathological and molecular levels. EAE is induced by immunizing experimental animals via subcutaneous injection of short myelin peptides together with specific adjuvants to boost the immune response. Like the human counterpart, EAE mice develop demyelinating lesions, immune cell infiltration into the central nervous system (CNS), glia activation and neuronal injury. A consistent body of evidence also supports a mechanistic role for B cell dysfunction in the etiology of both MS and EAE. B cells can serve as antigen-presenting cells as well as a primary source of pro-inflammatory cytokines and autoantibodies. In EAE, antibodies are generated against the myelin peptides that were employed to induce the disease. Such autoantibodies have been shown to mediate either myelin loss or pathogenic T cell reactivation into the CNS. This article describes an efficient ELISA-based protocol to quantify autoantibodies in the serum of C57BL/6J mice immunized with the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 35-55 (MOG35-55) peptide. The proposed method serves as a powerful tool to investigate the specificity and magnitude of the aberrant humoral response in the context of autoimmune demyelination.

Author Spotlight: Novel Assay for Studying B-Cell Responses in Multiple Sclerosis Research

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS), which shares with the human disease a robust humoral autoimmune response. Here, we report a simple and flexible ELISA protocol to quantify autoantibodies in the serum of EAE immunized mice.

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