This study was supported by the National Institutes of Health (R03NS131908) and the Department of Defense through the Multiple Sclerosis Research Program under Award No. W81XWH-22-1-0517. Opinions, interpretations, conclusions and recommendations are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Department of Defense. This study was also supported by East Carolina University startup funds.

All procedures involving mice were performed in compliance with experimental guidelines approved by the East Carolina University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Wildtype C57BL/6J female mice between 8-10 weeks of age were used in this study. The animals were obtained from a commercial source (see Table of Materials). EAE was induced following previously published reports12,13,14.
1. Serum collection
<ol>
	<li>Euthanize the experimental mouse by CO2 asphyxiation or isoflurane overdose at the required time point (following institutionally approved protocols) after inducing EAE via MOG35-55 immunization. 
	NOTE: The total number of mice and time points for serum collection can vary according to the specific experiment.</li>
	<li>After the absence of vital signs is confirmed by toe or tail pinch, place the mouse in a dorsal recumbency position on a dissection tray and affix the limbs in position with pins or tape. Orient the mouse body to the LED light source (see Table of Materials) to illuminate the thorax of the animal.</li>
	<li>Spray the mouse fur with 70% ethanol and make a midline incision of 3-4 cm along the abdomen from the pelvis to the xiphoid using the dissector scissors, taking care to avoid any organs and major vessels (Figure 1A-C). To facilitate the procedure, use the forceps to grab the skin over the xiphoid process.</li>
	<li>Cut through the diaphragm laterally and then cut the rib cage anteriorly on both lateral edges using the spring scissors, stopping before reaching the sternum at the midline (Figure 1D). Fold the rib flap that was created over the mouse head to expose the heart (Figure 1E). 
	NOTE: Cutting the sternum should be avoided as this will damage the main thoracic arteries laying adjacent to the bone and reduce the volume of blood that can be collected.</li>
	<li>Insert a 25 G needle connected to a 1 mL syringe into the left ventricle and collect the blood by gently pulling back the plunger (Figure 1F). To facilitate the needle puncture, gently brace the heart against a pair of forceps. 
	NOTE: If the blood does not appear immediately into the syringe, the needle should be slowly rotated, and a different angle should be tested. However, efforts should be made to place the needle properly on the first attempt to avoid creating unnecessary holes in the heart where blood can leak out.</li>
	<li>Transfer the blood into a sterile 1.5 mL tube and allow it to clot for 30 min at room temperature. Remove the clot by centrifugation at 2000 &#215; g for 20 min at 4 &#176;C. Collect the supernatant, which represents the serum fraction, and store single-use aliquots into cryogenic tubes at -80 &#176;C for future testing.</li>
</ol>
2. ELISA assay
<ol>
	<li>Resuspend the lyophilized MOG35-55 peptide (see Table of Materials) in water to obtain a 10 mg/mL stock. Before starting the experiment, dilute the stock to 10 &#956;g/mL in coating buffer (see Table of Materials) and pipette 100 &#956;L/well of the final solution into a 96-well plate. Seal the plate with an adhesive film to avoid evaporation and incubate the plate overnight at 4 &#176;C. 
	NOTE: At least 2 wells should be calculated for each sample and 2 additional wells should be also included for a blank control.</li>
	<li>In parallel, coat the same number of wells with 100 &#956;L/well of bovine serum albumin (BSA) dissolved in coating buffer at 10 &#956;g/mL concentration. These additional wells will serve as background controls. 
	NOTE: It is recommended to coat with BSA the controls wells since the coating and blocking buffers have different compositions. Please note that other encephalitogenic peptides (such as PLP139-151 or MBP84-104) could be used as irrelevant antigens in alternative to BSA.</li>
	<li>The day after, wash the plate 3 times with 200 &#956;L/well of phosphate buffer saline supplemented with 0.05% Tween 20 (PBS-T). Subsequently, add 100 &#956;L/well of a blocking solution made of 3% BSA in PBS (without Tween 20) and incubate the plate sealed for 1 h at 37 &#176;C in a hybridization oven.</li>
	<li>Wash the plate 3 times with 200 &#956;L/well of PBS-T. Dilute each serum sample 1:100 in blocking solution and add 100 &#956;L/well to both MOG35-55 and BSA coated wells. Add the same volume of blocking solution to the wells designated as blanks. Incubate the plate sealed for 2 h at room temperature, with constant shaking (250 rpm).</li>
	<li>Wash the plate 3 times with 200 &#956;L/well of PBS-T. Dilute the HRP-conjugated secondary antibody (1:2000, see Table of Materials) in a solution made of 0.2% BSA in PBS-T and add 100 &#956;L/well to all wells. Incubate the plate sealed for 1 h at room temperature, with constant shaking (250 rpm).</li>
	<li>Wash the plate 3 times with 200 &#956;L/well of PBS-T. Add 100 &#181;L/well of 3,3&#39;,5,5&#39; tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) substrate (see Table of Materials) to all the wells and incubate in the dark for 1-5 min, monitoring the development of a blue color.
	<ol>
		<li>Stop the reaction by adding 100 &#181;L/well of stop solution (see Table of Materials) and measure the optical density (OD) in each well using a plate reader set at a wavelength of 450 nm. 
		&#8203;NOTE: The TMB substrate should be equilibrated at room temperature for 30-60 minutes before adding it to the wells.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
3. Data analysis
<ol>
	<li>Populate an Excel spreadsheet with the OD values read from the plate. Average the OD values obtained from duplicate wells (both MOG35-55 and BSA coated) for each sample.</li>
	<li>For each sample, subtract the mean value of the BSA-coated wells from that of MOG35-55 coated wells. The resulting background corrected values will be proportional to the concentration of anti-MOG35-55 antibodies in the different serum samples. 
	NOTE: Blank wells should result in corrected values around 0.</li>
	<li>Apply a non-parametric statistical test such as the Mann-Whitney U test to compare the average OD values between two experimental conditions. Include at least 3 independent samples for each condition.</li>
</ol>

Investigating Humoral Response in Autoimmune Demyelination

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

The authors declare no competing interests.

Here, a simple and efficient ELISA-based protocol was reported to accurately quantify the humoral response in a relevant animal model of MS pathology. This method has been recently employed to describe the novel role of the ataxin-1 protein in controlling the serum levels of autoantibodies in the MOG35-55/C57BL6J EAE paradigm12. In this regard, a number of factors should be taken into consideration, in order to obtain consistent and biologically meaningful results with this method.
<p class="j...

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by focal infiltration of immune cells into the brain parenchyma, breakdown of myelin sheaths wrapping axons, glia activation, and neuronal loss1. In addition to the well-established role of pathogenic T cells, multiple lines of evidence have highlighted the involvement of B cells in mediating the autoimmune response against the CNS. B cells undergo clonal expansion in the MS brain and antibodies against myelin components have been detected within demyelinated lesions2,3. The selective activation of peripheral B cells at disease onset has been recently documented, suggesting a putative role for this immune cell compartment in disease initiation as well4. The success of B cell-depleting therapies such as anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies further corroborates the mechanistic connection between aberrant B cell functioning and autoimmune demyelination5,6. From a molecular standpoint, B cells can contribute to disease via autoantigen presentation, pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, and autoreactive antibody production.
Multiple animal models have been developed to recapitulate specific features of the complex MS phenotype. Among them, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is the most widely used in vivo paradigm and relies on the immunization of experimental animals with short peptides derived from myelin proteins such as myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) and myelin basic protein (MBP)7. EAE immunized animals develop a demyelinating pathology that resembles MS in many aspects, including a robust humoral response against the encephalitogenic peptide8. For this reason, EAE studies have been instrumental in dissecting the function of B cells and autoantibodies in the context of disease. For instance, it was demonstrated that MOG-specific antibodies isolated from MS patients can aggravate the clinical course in EAE models9. Notably, the proline residue at position 42 in human MOG was shown to be critical for determining autoantibody pathogenicity10. More recently, MOG-specific autoantibodies have been found to promote disease not only by mediating myelin loss but also via boosting the reactivation of autoreactive T cells within the CNS11. 
Considering the importance of antibody responses in CNS autoimmunity, this article presents an ELISA-based protocol to efficiently measure the serum levels of autoreactive antibodies in C57BL/6J mice EAE immunized with MOG35-55 peptide. In the first part of the protocol, the method to collect serum via intracardiac puncture will be described. Subsequently, the procedures to set up the ELISA assay and acquire the data will be detailed. Lastly, data analysis and interpretation will be discussed.

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

quantification of autoreactive antibodies in mice upon experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

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.

To demonstrate the robustness of the present ELISA assay, the method was tested on serum samples isolated from a cohort of C57BL/6J female mice at 20 days post-immunization (dpi) with 100 &#956;g of MOG35-55 peptide in complete Freund&#39;s adjuvant (CFA) following a validated EAE induction protocol12,13,14. The animals also received 400 ng of pertussis toxin on day 0 and 2. Serum samples from mock immunized animals with everyth...

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

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.

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 ...

So the focus of our laboratory is to understand the molecular basis of multiple sclerosis, a immune disease of the central nervous system that is characterized by demyelination, neuroinflammation, and axonal injury. So this protocol represent an economical and flexible alternatives to commercial kits. Our can be easily adjusted to test B-cell antibody responses against different EEA peptides.My lab is devoted to further understanding the connection between neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in chronic neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

quantification-autoreactive-antibodies-mice-upon-experimental

Research

JoVE Journal

Immunology and Infection

537 Views.  East Carolina University. So the focus of our laboratory is to understand the molecular basis of multiple sclerosis, a immune disease of the central nervous system that is characterized by demyelination, neuroinflammation, and axonal injury. So this protocol represent an economical and flexible alternatives to commercial kits. Our can be easily adjusted to test B-cell antibody responses against different EEA peptides.My lab is devoted to further understanding the connection between neuroinflammation and neurode...

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

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) ...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 Mycobacterium paratuberculosis 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 ...