DGG is a NHMRC Peter Doherty and Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia (MSRA) Early Career Fellow. JLF is supported by an MSRA Postdoctoral Fellowship. This work was supported by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) project grant #APP1058647 to JX.

All procedures described here were approved by the Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health (Melbourne Brain Centre) Animal Ethics Committee and follow the Australian Code of Practice for the Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes.
1. EAN Induction
NOTE: EAN can be successfully induced in male C57BL/6 mice aged between 6-8 weeks. The induction protocol takes 9 days in total. Day 0 refers to the day of the first immunization. For this protocol, injections were conducted under anesthesia&#160;(see step 1.1.2 below).
<ol>
	<li>On Day -1:
	<ol>
		<li>Prepare the Pertussis Toxin (see Table of Materials) solution of 1.6 &#181;g/mL using the sterile 0.1 M mouse-isotonic phosphate buffered saline (MT-PBS).</li>
		<li>Anesthetization with isoflurane:
		<ol>
			<li>Place the mouse (C57BL/6, male, 6-8 weeks) in the anesthetization chamber and adjust the oxygen flow to 1 L/min.</li>
			<li>Turn on the isoflurane vaporizer, adjust it to 2.5% for anesthetization, and monitor breathing and wait for 2 min, or until primary reflexes (corneal and hind limb) are no longer responsive&#160;</li>
		</ol>
		</li>
		<li>Remove the mouse from the anesthetization chamber and administer 250 &#181;L of the above Pertussis Toxin solution via an intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection using a 0.5 mL syringe with a 301/2 G needle.</li>
		<li>Prepare the injectable inoculum for immunization:
		<ol>
			<li>Prepare Solution A using 2 mg/mL solution of P0180-199 peptide (with &#62; 98% purity, sequence S-S-K-R-G-R- Q-T-P-V-L-Y-A-M-L-D-H-S-R-S) in 0.9% saline.</li>
			<li>Prepare Solution B using 20 mg/mL solution of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (see Table of Materials) in Freund&#39;s complete adjuvant (FCA, comprising: 15% mannide monoolate + 85% of paraffin oil and 0.5 mg/mL of desiccated killed and dried M Mycobacterium butyricum).</li>
			<li>To make the final inoculum for injecting, combine equal volume parts of Solutions A and B in a bead beater and mix them at a maximum speed for 1 min at room temperature. 
			NOTE: Solutions A and B can be kept as stock and stored at 4 &#176;C for a maximum of one month but the combined final inoculum must be freshly prepared on the day of the mouse injection.</li>
		</ol>
		</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>On Day 0, administer 50 &#181;L of the inoculum (preparation outlined in step 1.1.4) into a mouse via a subcutaneous injection using a 23 G needle. 
	NOTE: The injection can be placed between the shoulder blades, or between the hind limb and tail over the caudal dorsum.</li>
	<li>On Day 1, make the Pertussis Toxin solution of 1.2 &#181;g/mL (in MT-PBS) and administer 250 &#181;L into a mouse via i.p. injection using a 0.5 mL syringe with a 301/2 G needle.</li>
	<li>On Day 3, repeat step 1.3 above. 
	NOTE: Stock solutions A and B can be made up and stored at 4 &#730;C for a maximum of one month. However, the final injectable inoculum, produced by combining stock solutions A and B, must be done on the day of the injection.</li>
	<li>On Day 8, administer 50 &#181;L of the inoculum (preparation outlined in step 1.1.4) into a mouse via a subcutaneous injection (see step 1.2 above), at the same injection site as in step 1.2 (for each animal)</li>
</ol>
2. Clinical Scoring
<ol>
	<li>Perform clinical scoring out daily starting on Day 0.</li>
	<li>Give each mouse a score of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 according to the published criteria4. See Table 1 for EAN clinical scoring. 
	NOTE: For consistency, an effort should be made to score mice at the same time daily by the same researcher.</li>
</ol>
3. Motor Function Assessment
NOTE: The motor performance is assessed in parallel with clinical scoring for the same cohort of animals. The motor function assessment apparatus must be connected to a computer that has a gait function imaging system (see Table of Materials) installed. It is also recommended that all mice to be assessed should be habituated to the running task prior to EAN induction. To do this, practice runs (2 test runs per mouse) are performed three days prior to disease induction (Day -3).
<ol>
	<li>Turn on the motor function assessment apparatus and switch on the light button.</li>
	<li>Scruff the mouse firmly and ink its feet by lowering it onto a container filled with red ink while holding its tail. 
	NOTE: This step is required for the C57BL/6 strain, but can be skipped if a mouse strain with a white coat color is being used.</li>
	<li>Place the mouse into the walking compartment and set the treadmill speed at 15 cm/s.</li>
	<li>Turn on the treadmill and click the &#34;record&#34; button to capture the running motion of the mouse using the gait function imaging system (see Table of Materials).</li>
	<li>Use a timer and measure each running for 36 s. After 36 s, stop recording and stop the treadmill. 
	NOTE: Mice that cannot successfully complete the running task for this 36 s interval are considered to have failed.</li>
	<li>Save the video file in the designated folder.</li>
	<li>Repeat the above steps for each mouse to be assessed. Test the mice with the same running task every 3 days.</li>
	<li>Analyze the edited video files using software for gait function parameters (see Table of Materials). 
	NOTE: The details of how to analyze different motor parameters vary amongst software so please refer to the manufacturer&#39;s instruction before analysis. To gain histological evidence of axonal and myelin damage via either immunohistochemistry or electron microscopy, animal tissues can be taken at the any stage post motor function assessment depending on the specific aims of research.</li>
</ol>

<ol><li>Newswanger, D. L., Warren, C. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Guillain-Barre+syndrome%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Am+Fam+Physician%22%5BJournal%5D)">Guillain-Barre syndrome.</a> Am Fam Physician. 69 (10), 2405-2410 (2004).</li>
<li>Ruiz, E., Ramalle-Gomara, E., Quinones, C., Martinez-Ochoa, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Trends+in+Guillain-Barre+syndrome+mortality+in+Spain+from+1999+to+2013%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Int+J+Neurosci%22%5BJournal%5D)">Trends in Guillain-Barre syndrome mortality in Spain from 1999 to 2013.</a> Int J Neurosci. 126 (11), 985-988 (2016).</li>
<li>Walling, A. D., Dickson, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Guillain-Barre+syndrome%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Am+Fam+Physician%22%5BJournal%5D)">Guillain-Barre syndrome.</a> Am Fam Physician. 87 (3), 191-197 (2013).</li>
<li>Gonsalvez, D. G., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((A+Functional+and+Neuropathological+Testing+Paradigm+Reveals+New+Disability-Based+Parameters+and+Histological+Features+for+P0180-199-Induced+Experimental+Autoimmune+Neuritis+in+C57BL%2F6+Mice%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Neuropathol+Exp+Neurol%22%5BJournal%5D)">A Functional and Neuropathological Testing Paradigm Reveals New Disability-Based Parameters and Histological Features for P0180-199-Induced Experimental Autoimmune Neuritis in C57BL/6 Mice.</a> J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 76 (2), 89-100 (2017).</li>
<li>Berg, B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Guillain-Barre+syndrome%3A+pathogenesis%2C+diagnosis%2C+treatment+and+prognosis%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Nat+Rev+Neurol%22%5BJournal%5D)">Guillain-Barre syndrome: pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.</a> Nat Rev Neurol. 10 (8), 469-482 (2014).</li>
<li>Koller, H., Schroeter, M., Kieseier, B. C., Hartung, H. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Chronic+inflammatory+demyelinating+polyneuropathy--update+on+pathogenesis%2C+diagnostic+criteria+and+therapy%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Curr+Opin+Neurol%22%5BJournal%5D)">Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy--update on pathogenesis, diagnostic criteria and therapy.</a> Curr Opin Neurol. 18 (3), 273-278 (2005).</li>
<li>Griffin, J. W., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Pathology+of+the+motor-sensory+axonal+Guillain-Barre+syndrome%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Ann+Neurol%22%5BJournal%5D)">Pathology of the motor-sensory axonal Guillain-Barre syndrome.</a> Ann Neurol. 39 (1), 17-28 (1996).</li>
<li>Taylor, W. A., Hughes, R. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Experimental+allergic+neuritis+induced+in+SJL+mice+by+bovine+P2%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Neuroimmunol%22%5BJournal%5D)">Experimental allergic neuritis induced in SJL mice by bovine P2.</a> J Neuroimmunol. 8 (2-3), 153-157 (1985).</li>
<li>Zou, L. P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((P0+protein+peptide+180-199+together+with+pertussis+toxin+induces+experimental+autoimmune+neuritis+in+resistant+C57BL%2F6+mice%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Neurosci+Res%22%5BJournal%5D)">P0 protein peptide 180-199 together with pertussis toxin induces experimental autoimmune neuritis in resistant C57BL/6 mice.</a> J Neurosci Res. 62 (5), 717-721 (2000).</li>
<li>Miletic, H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((P0%28106-125%29+is+a+neuritogenic+epitope+of+the+peripheral+myelin+protein+P0+and+induces+autoimmune+neuritis+in+C57BL%2F6+mice%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Neuropathol+Exp+Neurol%22%5BJournal%5D)">P0(106-125) is a neuritogenic epitope of the peripheral myelin protein P0 and induces autoimmune neuritis in C57BL/6 mice.</a> J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 64 (1), 66-73 (2005).</li>
<li>Hafer-Macko, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Acute+motor+axonal+neuropathy%3A+an+antibody-mediated+attack+on+axolemma%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Ann+Neurol%22%5BJournal%5D)">Acute motor axonal neuropathy: an antibody-mediated attack on axolemma.</a> Ann Neurol. 40 (4), 635-644 (1996).</li>
<li>Griffin, J. W., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Early+nodal+changes+in+the+acute+motor+axonal+neuropathy+pattern+of+the+Guillain-Barre+syndrome%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Neurocytol%22%5BJournal%5D)">Early nodal changes in the acute motor axonal neuropathy pattern of the Guillain-Barre syndrome.</a> J Neurocytol. 25 (1), 33-51 (1996).</li>
</ol>

The authors have no conflicts of interest regarding this work.

This report outlines a simple method to induce EAN using the P0180-199 peptide in C57BL/6 mice, enabling the quantification of key neuropathological and functional deficits in mice induced with EAN. Distinct to the EAN induction protocol described here is the use of anesthesia while performing the immunization injections. The use of isoflurane anesthesia greatly enhances the ability to ensure that the total volume of inoculum is injected subcutaneously in the desired location with minimal error and stress to t...

Peripheral neuropathies can be either genetic in origin or acquired, with acquired neuropathies having either metabolic, ischaemic, inflammatory, or toxic precipitants. These diseases are also usefully classified as either axonal or demyelinative in origin. The most common acquired demyelinating peripheral neuropathies are Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (AIDP, also known as Guillain-Barr&#233; syndrome, GBS) and Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)1,2,3,4; both are pathogenetically characterized by an autoimmune reaction directed against the myelin sheath, causing demyelination of the peripheral nerves. In these diseases, activated T cells cross the blood nerve barrier and generate an immune reaction within the PNS. Activation of macrophages within the nerve then causes demyelination either directly via phagocytic attack or indirectly via secreted inflammatory mediators, resulting in clinical disabilities such as paralysis and sensory dysfunction5. While demyelinated axons retain the ability to be remyelinated following demyelination, remyelination is often delayed or incomplete, resulting in susceptibility of the naked axons to irreversible damage, which is the major cause of permanent clinical disability. Currently, the most effective treatments are immunomodulatory, but despite their efficacy, in many cases the recovery is often slow and ~25% patients will experience residual functional deficits that significantly reduce their quality of life6,7.
EAN is a widely used animal model of demyelinating peripheral neuropathy that has provided valuable insights into pathogenesis and a means to assess novel therapeutic agents4. This model can be induced in different species such as rabbits, rats, mice, and guinea pigs, and is induced by immunization with neurogenic antigens. However, ultimately the successful EAN induction depends on an appropriate immune response for disease to occur. Given the species (and inter-species/strain) variations in immune function, multiple combinations of antigens and adjuvants have been developed to successfully induce EAN. In terms of murine genetic tools, the C57BL/6 is the most widely used; however, the traditional P2 protein peptide 57-81 (P257-81) that results in disease in the susceptible SJL mouse strain8 is unable to illicit pathogenesis leading to functional deficits in the C57BL/6 strain. Fortunately, sensitization paradigms using the P0106-125 or P0180-199 peptides, delivered in adjuvant combined with the injection of pertussis toxin can overcome this barrier, enabling sophisticated genetic tools to be utilized in the murine EAN model.
Here, a simple method for the induction of EAN in the C57BL/6 mice is presented. In addition, a comprehensive detailed approach by which to evaluate the functional and neuropathological deficits associated with the disease is provided. The P0180-199 peptide9 was chosen in preference to the P057-81 alternative10. The P0180-199 model has been described to produce less severe clinical signs compared with the P057-81 alternative10, and is therefore likely to withstand the introduction of potentially deleterious genetic perturbations, recover from surgical procedures (such as osmotic pump implantation), and is amenable to treadmill gait function testing4. However, the treadmill gait function tests and histological protocols described here could easily be applied when studying the disease in a P057-81 induced variant.

<table><tbody><tr><td>C57BL/6, male, 6-8 weeks old</td><td>Australian Bioresources Cenre, WA, Australia</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Pertussis toxin</td><td>List Biological Laboratories, Inc., CA, USA</td><td>#181</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>0.1 M mouse-isotonic phosphated buffered salined (MT-PBS)</td><td></td><td></td><td>Laboratories will have their own protocol.</td></tr><tr><td>Isoflurane</td><td>Pharmachem, QLD, Australia</td><td></td><td>Laboratories will have their own protocol for administration.</td></tr><tr><td>P0&lt;sub&gt;180&amp;ndash;199 &lt;/sub&gt;peptide</td><td>Wuxi Nordisk Biotech Co. Lt. SHG, CHN</td><td></td><td>P0&lt;sub&gt;180&amp;ndash;199&lt;/sub&gt;, sequence S&amp;ndash;S&amp;ndash;K&amp;ndash;R&amp;ndash;G&amp;ndash;R&amp;ndash; Q&amp;ndash;T&amp;ndash;P&amp;ndash;V&amp;ndash;L&amp;ndash;Y&amp;ndash;A&amp;ndash;M&amp;ndash;L&amp;ndash;D&amp;ndash;H&amp;ndash;S&amp;ndash;R&amp;ndash;S</td></tr><tr><td>Heat killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis (strain H37RA)</td><td>Difco, MI, USA</td><td>#231141</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Freund&#039;s complete adjuvant (FCA)</td><td>Difco, MI, USA</td><td>#263910</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>16% Paraformaldehyde (PFA)</td><td>Electron Microscopy Services</td><td>#15710</td><td>Dilute to 4% PFA day of tissue collection.</td></tr><tr><td>25% glutaraldheyde</td><td>ProSciTech Pty Ltd, QLD, Australia</td><td>#11-30-8</td><td>Dilute to 2.5% glutaraldehyde day of fixation.</td></tr><tr><td>Sodium azide</td><td>Chem-Supply Pty Ltd, SA, Australia</td><td>SL189</td><td>Create 10% (w/v) stock in 0.1M MT-PBS. Use at 0.03% (v/v).</td></tr><tr><td>Sucrose</td><td>Chem-Supply Pty Ltd, SA, Australia</td><td>SA030</td><td>Use at 30% (w/v).</td></tr><tr><td>Optimum cutting temperature (OCT) medium</td><td>Sakura Finetek, CA, USA</td><td>#4583</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Normal donkey serum</td><td>Merck Millipore, MA, USA</td><td>#S30-100</td><td>Use as antibody diluent at 10% (v/v) or other concentration determined by own laboratory.</td></tr><tr><td>Triton-X 100</td><td>Sigma Aldrich, MI, USA</td><td>#90o2-31-1</td><td>Use in antibody diluent at 0.3% (v/v) or other concentration determined by own laboratory.</td></tr><tr><td>rabbit anti-amyloid precursor protein (APP)</td><td>Invitrogen (Life Technologies), CA, USA</td><td>S12700</td><td>Used at 1:400 or titrate in own lab.</td></tr><tr><td>rabbit anti-contactin-associated protein-1 (Caspr)</td><td>Gift from Prof Elior Peles, Wiezmann Institute of Science, Israel</td><td></td><td>Used at 1:500 or titrate in own lab.</td></tr><tr><td>Appropriate Alexa Fluor conjugated secondary antibodies</td><td>Molecular Probes (Life Technologies), OR, USA</td><td>Various</td><td>Use at 1:200 or titrate in own lab. Choice of species the antibody was raised in and Alexa Fluor chosen is at the discretion of each laboratory.</td></tr><tr><td>Aqueous mounting solution</td><td>Dako (Agilent), CA, USA</td><td>#S3023</td><td>Each laboratory will have their own preference.</td></tr><tr><td>&lt;strong&gt;Name&lt;/strong&gt;</td><td>&lt;strong&gt;Company&lt;/strong&gt;</td><td>&lt;strong&gt;Catalog Number&lt;/strong&gt;</td><td>&lt;strong&gt;Comments&lt;/strong&gt;</td></tr><tr><td>&lt;strong&gt;Equipment&lt;/strong&gt;</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>0.5 mL syringe with 30&lt;sup&gt;1/2&lt;/sup&gt; g needles</td><td>BD</td><td>#326105</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>23 g needles</td><td>BD</td><td>#305143</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Red ink pad</td><td></td><td></td><td>Any red ink pad or red food dye could be used to mark the animals&#039; feet.</td></tr><tr><td>DigiGate apparatus (includes treadmill)</td><td>eMouse Specifics Inc. Framingham, MA</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>DigiGate Imaging System</td><td>eMouse Specifics Inc. Framingham, MA</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Stopwatch</td><td></td><td></td><td>Any timer may be used.</td></tr><tr><td>DigiGait 8 Software</td><td>eMouse Specifics Inc. Framingham, MA</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Dissecting microscope</td><td>Zeiss</td><td></td><td>Any appropriate dissecting microscope may be used.</td></tr><tr><td>Charged slides</td><td>Superfrost Plus, Lomb Scientific Pty Ltd</td><td>SF41296SP</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Cyrostat</td><td>Leica</td><td></td><td>Any suitable cyrostat may be used.</td></tr><tr><td>Perfusion equipment and dissecting instruments</td><td></td><td></td><td>Labs will have their own perfusion protoctols.</td></tr><tr><td>Opaque humified chamber</td><td></td><td></td><td>Labs may produce their own using an opaque plastic container.</td></tr><tr><td>PAP pene</td><td>GeneTex (USA)</td><td></td><td>Wax pencil, or surface tension may also be used to create a well around the tissue section.</td></tr><tr><td>Confocal microscope</td><td>Zeis LSM780</td><td></td><td>Any confocal microscope with appropriate laser lines may be used.</td></tr><tr><td>FIJI/Image J</td><td>National Institues of Health</td><td></td><td>Available from www.fiji.sc</td></tr></tbody></table>

a simple approach to induce experimental autoimmune neuritis in c57bl/6 mice for functional and neuropathological assessments

Experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN) is a well-appreciated experimental model of autoimmune peripheral demyelinating diseases. EAN disease is induced by immunizing mice with neurogenic peptides to direct an inflammatory attack toward components of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Recent advances have enabled the induction of EAN in the relatively resistant C57BL/6 mouse line using myelin protein zero (P0)106-125 or P0180-199 peptides delivered in adjuvant combined with the injection of pertussis toxin. The ability to induce EAN in the C57BL/6 strain allows for the use of the numerous genetic tools that exist on this mouse background, and thus allows the sophisticated study of disease pathogenesis and interrogation of the mechanistic action of novel therapeutics in combination with transgenic approaches. In this study, we demonstrate a simple approach to successfully induce EAN using the P0180-199 peptide in C57BL/6 mice. We also outline a protocol for the assessment of functional deficits that occur in this model, accompanied by an array of neuropathological features. Thus, this model is a powerful experimental model to study the pathogenesis of human peripheral demyelinating neuropathies, and to determine the efficacy of potential therapies that aim to promote myelin repair and protect against nerve damage in autoimmune neuritis.

P0180-199 peptide induced EAN in C57BL/6 mice leads to a monophasic disease with clinical score onset from 6 days post first immunization (dpi), and maximal score severity is observed from 25 dpi followed by some clinical score improvement from 40 dpi duration (Figure 1)4,9. In terms of gait function, mice begin to fail at a simple running task as early as 6 dpi, and by 35 dpi mice have lit...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Simple Approach to Induce Experimental Autoimmune Neuritis in C57BL/6 Mice for Functional and Neuropathological Assessments at JoVE.com

A Simple Approach to Induce Experimental Autoimmune Neuritis in C57BL/6 Mice for Functional and Neuropathological Assessments

This report outlines a simple approach to successfully induce experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN) using the myelin protein zero (P0)180-199 peptide in combination with Freund&#39;s complete adjuvant and pertussis toxin. We present a sophisticated paradigm capable of accurately assessing the extent of functional deficits and neuropathology that occur in this EAN.

Experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN) is a well-appreciated experimental model of autoimmune peripheral demyelinating diseases. EAN disease is induced by ...

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Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

9.2K Views.  The University of Melbourne. Dit verslag schetst een eenvoudige benadering om succesvol experimentele autoimmune neuritis (EAN) met behulp van de myeline proteïne nul peptide180-199 (P0) in combinatie met de Freund compleet adjuvans en kinkhoest toxine. We presenteren een verfijnde paradigma staat nauwkeurig de beoordeling van de omvang van functionele tekorten en Neuropathologie die zich voordoen in deze EAN.

Video: A Simple Approach to Induce Experimental Autoimmune Neuritis in C57BL/6 Mice for Functional and Neuropathological Assessments

Systemic Injection of Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells in Mice with Chronic EAE

Neural stem/precursor cells (NPCs) are a promising stem cell source for transplantation approaches aiming at brain repair or restoration in regenerative neurology. This directive has arisen from the extensive evidence that brain repair is achieved after focal or systemic NPC transplantation in several preclinical models of neurological diseases.
These experimental data have identified the cell delivery route as one of the main hurdles of restorative stem cell therapies for brain diseases that requires urgent assessment. Intraparenchymal stem cell grafting represents a logical approach to those pathologies characterized by isolated and accessible brain lesions such as spinal cord injuries and Parkinson's disease. Unfortunately, this principle is poorly applicable to conditions characterized by a multifocal, inflammatory and disseminated (both in time and space) nature, including multiple sclerosis (MS). As such, brain targeting by systemic NPC delivery has become a low invasive and therapeutically efficacious protocol to deliver cells to the brain and spinal cord of rodents and nonhuman primates affected by experimental chronic inflammatory damage of the central nervous system (CNS).
This alternative method of cell delivery relies on the NPC pathotropism, specifically their innate capacity to (i) sense the environment via functional cell adhesion molecules and inflammatory cytokine and chemokine receptors; (ii) cross the leaking anatomical barriers after intravenous (i.v.) or intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection; (iii) accumulate at the level of multiple perivascular site(s) of inflammatory brain and spinal cord damage; and (i.v.) exert remarkable tissue trophic and immune regulatory effects onto different host target cells in vivo.
Here we describe the methods that we have developed for the i.v. and i.c.v. delivery of syngeneic NPCs in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), as model of chronic CNS inflammatory demyelination, and envisage the systemic stem cell delivery as a valuable technique for the selective targeting of the inflamed brain in regenerative neurology.

The transplantation of neural stem/progenitor cells (NPCs) holds great promises in regenerative neurology. The systemic delivery of NPCs has turned into effective, low invasive, and therapeutically very efficacious protocol to deliver stem cells in the brain and spinal cord of rodents and nonhuman primates affected by experimental chronic inflammatory damage of the central nervous system.

Neural stem/precursor cells (NPCs) are a promising stem cell source for transplantation approaches aiming at brain repair or restoration in regenerative ...

Immunology and Infection

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) ...

Bioluminescence and Near-infrared Imaging of Optic Neuritis and Brain Inflammation in the EAE Model of Multiple Sclerosis in Mice

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in SJL/J mice is a model for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Clinical EAE scores describing motor function deficits are basic readouts of the immune-mediated inflammation of the spinal cord. However, scores and body weight do not allow for an in vivo assessment of brain inflammation and optic neuritis. The latter is an early and frequent manifestation in about 2/3 of MS patients. Here, we show methods for bioluminescence and near-infrared live imaging to assess EAE evoked optic neuritis, brain inflammation, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption in living mice using an in vivo imaging system. A bioluminescent substrate activated by oxidases primarily showed optic neuritis. The signal was specific and allowed the visualization of medication effects and disease time courses, which paralleled the clinical scores. Pegylated fluorescent nanoparticles that remained within the vasculature for extended periods of time were used to assess the BBB integrity. Near-infrared imaging revealed a BBB leak at the peak of the disease. The signal was the strongest around the eyes. A near-infrared substrate for matrix metalloproteinases was used to assess EAE-evoked inflammation. Auto-fluorescence interfered with the signal, requiring spectral unmixing for quantification. Overall, bioluminescence imaging was a reliable method to assess EAE-associated optic neuritis and medication effects and was superior to the near-infrared techniques in terms of signal specificity, robustness, ease of quantification, and cost.

We show a technique for in vivo live bioluminescence and near-infrared imaging of optic neuritis and encephalitis in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model for multiple sclerosis in SJL/J mice.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in SJL/J mice is a model for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Clinical EAE scores describing ...

Medicine

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;

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

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 ...

Induction and Evaluation of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Mouse

Modeling Multiple Sclerosis in the Two Sexes: MOG35-55-Induced Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease affecting the central nervous system (CNS). It is characterized by different prevalence in the sexes, affecting more women than men, and different outcomes, showing more aggressive forms in men than in women. Furthermore, MS is highly heterogeneous in terms of clinical aspects, radiological, and pathological features. Thus, it is necessary to take advantage of experimental animal models that allow the investigation of as many aspects of the pathology as possible. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) represents one of the most used models of MS in mice, modeling different disease features, from the activation of the immune system to CNS damage. Here we describe a protocol for the induction of EAE in both male and female C57BL/6J mice using myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide 35-55 (MOG35-55) immunization, which leads to the development of a chronic form of the disease. We also report the evaluation of the daily clinical score and motor performance of these mice for 28 days post immunization (28 dpi). Lastly, we illustrate some basic histological analysis at the CNS level, focusing on the spinal cord as the primary site of disease-induced damage.

Author Spotlight: Creating a Versatile Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Model Relevant for Both Male and Female Mice 

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis is one of the most widely used murine models of multiple sclerosis. In the current protocol, C57BL/6J mice of both sexes are immunized with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide, resulting mainly in ascending paresis of the tail and limbs. Here we discuss the protocol of EAE induction and evaluation.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease affecting the central nervous system (CNS). It is characterized by different ...

Induction and Diverse Assessment Indicators of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a typical autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by inflammatory infiltration, demyelination, and axonal damage. Currently, there are no measures to cure MS completely, but multiple disease-modifying therapies (DMT) are available to control and mitigate disease progression. There are significant similarities between the CNS pathological features of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and MS patients. EAE has been widely used as a representative model to determine MS drugs' efficacy and explore the development of new therapies for MS disease. Active induction of EAE in mice has a stable and reproducible effect and is particularly suitable for studying the effects of drugs or genes on autoimmune neuroinflammation. The method of immunizing C57BL/6J mice with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG35-55) and the daily assessment of disease symptoms using a clinical scoring system is mainly shared. Given the complex etiology of MS with diverse clinical manifestations, the existing clinical scoring system can't satisfy the assessment of disease treatment. To avoid the shortcomings of a single intervention, new indicators to assess EAE based on clinical manifestations of anxiety-like moods and osteoporosis in MS patients are created to provide a more comprehensive assessment of MS treatment.

The present protocol describes the induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in a mouse model using myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein and monitoring the disease process using a clinical scoring system. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis-related symptoms are analyzed using mouse femur micro-computed tomography analysis and open field test to assess the disease process comprehensively.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a typical autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by inflammatory infiltration, demyelination, and ...

Biology

Generation of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in a Mouse Model

Source: Tietz, S. M. et al. <a href="https://app.jove.com/v/59249">Visualizing Impairment of the Endothelial and Glial Barriers of the Neurovascular Unit during Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis In Vivo.</a> J. Vis. Exp.&#160; (2019)
This video demonstrates the method of inducing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) by injecting myelin-derived peptides with an adjuvant to activate autoreactive T cells, which migrate to the brain. Pertussis toxin is administered to increase blood-brain barrier permeability, allowing these T cells and other immune cells to enter the brain. These immune cells cause demyelination, leading to impaired nerve transmission and development of EAE.

All procedures involving animal models have been reviewed by the local institutional animal care committee and the JoVE veterinary review board.
1. EAE ...

JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments

Neuropathology

Cerebrovascular Diseases

Assessing Motor Function in an Experimental Autoimmune Neuritis Mouse Model

Source: Gonsalvez, D. G., et al., <a href="https://app.jove.com/v/56455">A Simple Approach to Induce Experimental Autoimmune Neuritis in C57BL/6 Mice for Functional and Neuropathological Assessments.</a> J. Vis. Exp. (2017).
This video demonstrates the process of assessing motor dysfunction in a mouse model through the administration of Pertussis toxin and an inoculum containing myelin-mimicking peptides and adjuvants, followed by treadmill tests to assess motor function and evaluate the resulting nerve damage due to immune activation and demyelination.

All procedures involving animal models have been reviewed by the local institutional animal care committee and the JoVE veterinary review board.
1. EAN ...

A Simple Approach to Induce Experimental Autoimmune Neuritis in C57BL/6 Mice for Functional and Neuropathological Assessments

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