Name: simple and efficient production and purification of mouse myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein for experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis studies
Uploaded: 2016-10-27T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Simple and Efficient Production and Purification of Mouse Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein for Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Studies at JoVE.co

This work was supported by a grant from the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada. RWJ is the recipient of the Waugh Family MS Society of Canada Doctoral Studentship Award.

1. Protein Induction
NOTE: In the following steps, BL21 Escherichia coli bacteria transformed with a pET-32 vector containing the sequence for the MOGtag fusion protein (see reference5 and Figure 1) are grown to high densities and are then induced to express the MOGtag protein. See Figure 2 for overall timeline - note that days are approximate and alternate stop points are noted in the protocol. If starting with purified...

<ol>
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Here, we have described a protocol for the production of MOGtag protein and how to generate pure MOG1-125 from the MOGtag protein. This protocol is based both on standard His-tag based protein purification methods, as well as a previously described protocol for the generation of an older MOG-based protein15. Although it is not described here, the primary usage of the MOGtag protein is to induce EAE through immunization with protein antigen. A protocol describing how ...

MS is a human disease characterized by chronic inflammation and neurodegeneration of the CNS which is thought to be driven by an autoimmune response directed towards myelin. The loss of myelin and axons over time result in the gradual decline of cognitive and motor function1. &#34;Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis&#34; is an umbrella term for animal models of autoimmune disease directed towards CNS myelin. Like human MS, EAE is typically characterized by immune cell infiltration of the CNS and, in some cases, demyelination2. However, the degree to which any given EAE model resembles human MS in part depends on the species or strain used and on the complexity of the underlying anti-myelin autoimmune response.
Anti-myelin autoimmunity can be experimentally induced in several ways, but the most common method used today is to immunize mice with a short peptide of amino acids mimicking the immunodominant CD4+ T cell epitope of a myelin protein. This represents the minimum requirement to induce a pathogenic response. Perhaps the most common of these is a 21 amino acid peptide derived from myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG35-55), which is used to induce EAE in C57Bl/6 mice3. However, for some experimental purposes it is desirable or even necessary to immunize with larger protein antigens and indeed there are several advantages to this over immunization with short peptide. First, because of MHC restriction, short peptides are usually only effective in a very limited range of strains, while larger protein antigens representing either the whole protein or a specific domain can be processed normally for presentation in multiple inbred mouse strains or even in different species4. Second, a larger protein antigen is capable of inducing a more complex immune response incorporating more types of lymphocytes in antigen recognition, rather than limiting antigen recognition to CD4+ T cells. For example, B cells via their B cell receptor (BCR) interact directly with whole rather than processed protein. We and others have shown that B cells activated by MOG35-55 immunization do not recognize MOG protein5. Since B cells were recently demonstrated to play a pathogenic role in human MS6, EAE models that incorporate B cells in autoimmune pathology are increasingly important.
Despite the advantages of using larger protein antigens to induce EAE, there remain few commercially available sources for such proteins. Indeed, while short peptides like MOG35-55 can be synthesized very quickly and at a relatively low cost, the commercial options for MOG protein are limited and cost substantially more to purchase. Nonetheless, there are several expression vectors available for research groups to generate MOG extracellular domain (MOG1-125) themselves. However, all of the expression systems that we have identified in the literature are based on older technologies that have since been replaced with more efficient expression systems7. Further, most are based on rat or human MOG8. For some investigations of autoimmunity in mice, an antigen based on the mouse MOG autoantigen is preferable. Finally, all MOG-based proteins that we have identified, either commercial or as expression vectors, are fusion proteins containing additional amino acids to the MOG1-125 base. These include a tag for purification and usually other sequences as well, many of which with a function we were unable to identify.
To address these limitations, we generated a novel fusion protein based on the mouse MOG extracellular domain fused to a tag containing thioredoxin to combat the known insolubility of MOG protein5. The tag sequence also contains a 6xHis sequence for purification and a TEV protease cleavage site that allows for the complete removal of all tag sequences, if desired. This is the only method that we are aware of to generate pure MOG1-125 protein. To facilitate production of large amounts of protein, the MOG1-125 sequence was codon-optimized for bacterial expression and the MOGtag fusion protein was inserted into the pET-32 expression system. Here, we describe in detail the protocol to produce and purify MOGtag protein, and pure MOG1-125, using non-specialized equipment available to most immunology laboratories.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="1434">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:375px;">BL21 E.coli- pet32-MOGtag</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Kerfoot lab</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:803px;">These bacteria are required to make the MOGtag protein. Glycerol stocks of these bacteria are available upon request.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">LB broth miller</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Bioshop</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">LBL407.1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:375px;">Ampicillin</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">bio basic</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">AB0028</td>
			<td>Reconsititute the powder into 50% ethanol/ 50% H2O at 100 mg/ml. Store at -20 &#176;C.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:375px;">IPTG</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Bioshop</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">IPT002.5</td>
			<td>Reconsititute the powder into H2O at 1M and store at -20 &#176;C.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:375px;">Chicken-egg lysozyme</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Bioshop</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">LYS702.10</td>
			<td>Reconstitute in H2O at 50 mg/ml and store at -80 &#176;C.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">Triton-X100</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">T-8532</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">Phosphate buffered saline</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">life technologies</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">20012-027</td>
			<td>Commercial phosphate buffered saline is not required, any standard lab made phosphate buffered saline is sufficient.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">Sodium chloride</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Bioshop</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">SOD004.1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">Tris-HCl</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Bioshop</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">TRS002.1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">Imidazole</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Bioshop</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">IMD508.100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">Guanidine-HCl</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">G3272</td>
			<td>The quality must be greater than 98% purity.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">0.5M EDTA</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">bioshop</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">EDT111.500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">Nickel (II) sulfate</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Bioshop</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">NIC700.500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:375px;">His bind resin</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">EMD Millipore</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">69670-3</td>
			<td>Store in 20% ethanol 80% H2O at 4 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:375px;">Anhydrous ethanol</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Commercial Alcohols</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">P016EAAN</td>
			<td>Dilute with water as needed.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">Glacial acetic acid</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Bioshop</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">ACE222.1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">Sodium acetate trihydrate</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Bioshop</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">SAA305.500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">bovine serum albumin standard</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">bio-rad</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">500-0206</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">Bio-rad protein assay dye reagent concentrate</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">bio-rad</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">500-0006</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:375px;">Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, disodium salt dihydrate</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Fisher scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">BP120-500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">Tris-base</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Bioshop</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">TRS001.1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">7000 MW Snakeskin dialysis tubing</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Thermoscientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">68700</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">2-mercaptoethanol</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">M3148-25ml</td>
			<td>This reagent should not be handled outside of a fume hood.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">AcTEV protease</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">lifetechnologies</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">12575-015</td>
			<td>Producing your own TEV protease can be accomplished using (https://www.addgene.org/8827/) and purified as in reference 17</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">Polyethyleneglycol 3350</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Bioshop</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">PEG335.1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">polyethyleneglycol 8000</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Bioshop</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">PEG800.1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">Nunc MaxiSorp flat-bottom 96 well plate</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">ebioscience</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">44-2404-21</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">Sonicator</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Fisher scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">FB-120-110</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">Eon microplate spectrometer</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Biotek</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">11-120-611</td>
			<td>This equipment uses the Gen5 data analysis software.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">Gen5 data analysis software</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">BioTek</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">sodium dodecyl sulphate</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Bioshop</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">SDS001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">bromophenol blue</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Bioshop</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">BRO777</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">Glycerol</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Bioshop</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">GLY001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">Protein desalting columns</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Thermoscientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">89849</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">Glycine</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">Bioshop</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">GLN001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">precast 12% polyacrylamide gel</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">bio-rad</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">456-1045</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">Rapid stain reagent</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">EMD Millipore</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">553215</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">Gel dock EZ imager</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">bio-rad</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">1708270</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">White Light Sample Tray</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">bio-rad</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">1708272&#160;</td>
			<td>Used along with gel dock EZ imager for coomassie blue stains</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:375px;">Protein ladder</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">bio-rad</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">1610375</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

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.

Once the purification is complete, samples collected in steps 1.4, 2.1, 3.4, and the final product from step 6.4 should be run on a protein gel (Figure 3A). MOGtag should first appear as a 31.86 kDa band in the TO/N sample, but not T0, and should be the only band in the final pure product. To test whether the MOGtag protein has correctly folded, the MOGtag protein can be used to label MOG-protein specific B cells by F...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Simple and Efficient Production and Purification of Mouse Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein for Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Studies at JoVE.co

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

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 ...

The overall goal of this protocol is to generate protein based on the extracellular domain of myelin oligodendrocytes glycoprotein or MOG, which can be used to induce experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis or EAE. This protocol makes it possible for any lab to make MOG protein in order to use as an antigen to induce EAE. The main advantage of this protocol is that it doesn't rely on specialized protein handling equipment but instead you can use standard equipment found in almost any immunology lab.Well, this protocol was optimized for MOG tag protein based on the mouse version, it should work for other MOG protein expression systems that incorporate a hestate for purification. Inoculate five milliliters of sterilized broth with the BL 21 MOG tag glycerol stock and incubate it overnight at 37 degrees Celsius and 200 RPM. Add 500 microlitres of 100 milligram per milliliter ampicillin to each of to 500 milliliter flasks containing 500 milliliters of sterile LB.Transfer one milliliter of the overnight culture to each of the two flasks of LB broth.Incubate at 37 degrees Celsius and 200 RPM for five hours or up to an optical density of 0.6. Once the desired cell density is reached, add 0.5 milliliters of one molar IPTG to each culture flask. Incubate the flask, set 37 degrees Celsius and 200 RPM for four hours and then at room temperature and 75 RPM overnight.Distribute the cultures evenly amongst 250 milliliter bottles compatible with high speed centrifugation and keep the bottles on ice from this point forward. Pellet the bacterial cells at 22, 000 times g for 15 minutes at four degrees Celsius. Resuspend and combine all of the bacterial pellets in a total of 30 milliliters of lysate buffer.Transfer this volume to around bottom 50 milliliter tube capable of high speed centrification. Place this tube in a 30 degree Celsius water bath for 30 minutes. During the incubation time, shake the tube twice to resuspend the cells.Following incubation, transport the tube on to ice and sonicate the solution at 20 kilohertz and amplitude 70%pulsing on for three seconds and off for three seconds for five pulses, sonicate the solution for six total rounds of five pulses, allowing the solution to cool in ice in between rounds. Next, centrifuge the solution at 24, 000 times g for 15 minutes at four degrees Celsius, then resuspend the pellet in 30 milliliters of buffer A and incubate the solution at four degrees Celsius for three hours. After incubation, sonicate the solution on ice as before, then add 17.2 grams of guanidine HCl to the solution.Incubate the sample on ice for one hour to solublelize the MOG tag protein. To charge and equilibrate the nickel resin, first wash the resin by adding 40 milliliters of water to each tube containing resin. Lay the tubes horizontally onto a rocker and let them agitate for five minutes at four degrees Celsius.Once finished, centrifuge the tubes at 4500 times g for eight minutes at four degrees Celsius. Discard the supernatant by pipetting to avoid disturbing the pellet. Then add 40 milliliters of charge buffer to each tube.Transfer the tubes onto a rocker and let them agitate for 15 minutes at four degrees Celsius before centrifusing done again as before. Discard the supernatant and add 40 milliliters of buffer B to the tubes. Transfer the tubes onto a rocker and let them agitate for five minutes at four degrees Celsius before centrifusing the tubes with resin once more.To purify the MOG tag protein, transfer the entire volume of solublized protein to the first tube containing nickel resin. After mixing, place the tube horizontally onto a rocker at four degrees Celsius for one hour. After centralfusing the tube at 4500 times g for eight minutes at four degrees Celsius, transfer this supernatant to the second tube of nickel resin and incubate as before.In the meantime, resuspend the nickel resin in the first tube in 40 milliliters evolution buffer and place the tube horizontally on a rocker at four degrees Celsius for five minutes before centrifusing as before. Transfer the supernatant containing the alluded MOG tag protein into a 250 milliliter bottle labeled purified MOG tagged protein. Keep this bottle at four degrees Celsius.With each elution step, pool the resulting supernatant in this bottle. Add 40 milliliters of strip buffer to the nickel present in the first tube and place horizontally on a rocker for five minutes at four degrees Celsius. Centrifuge the tube, discard the supernatant and recharge the nickel risen as before.Once finished, move forward with the second tube as was done for the first tube. A total of four rounds of absorption of the solubilized protein onto the charged nickel resin and elution will recover most of the protein. Cut approximately 30 centimeters of snake skin dialysis tubing.Secure one end with a locking hemostats by folding the end of the snake skin over three times and clamping the folded end with the hemostat. Fill the snake skin with diluted MOG tag protein. Then remove any air bubbles from the snakeskin by forcing them out of the open end.Finally, seal the other end of the tube using a second locking hemostat. Next, fill a large bucket with one liter of one x acetate buffer with four molar guanidine. Place up to two sections of dialysis tubing containing MOG tag protein into the bucket.Using tape, secure the hemostats to the side of the bucket to leave room for a magnetic stir bar to spin unhindered in the bottom. Put the bucket in a four degree Celsius room on a magnetic skirt plate and turn it on to a slow rotation rate. The dialysis takes a minimum of three days to gradually reduce the amount of guanidine in the buffer.Regularly check to make sure that the tube begins intact and that the ends are securely closed. After four to five hours, add one liter of one x acetate buffer to the dialysis bucket. Repeat this process every four to five hours for a total of three times to result in the total of four liters in the bucket.After discarding half of the buffer in the bucket, refill with one liter of one x acetate buffer and set up the tubing and stir bar. Finally, replace the entire four liter volume in the bucket with four liters of fresh one x acetate buffer and let stir for four to five hours. For best results, do this step on the day of protein concentration.To concentrate the MOG tag protein, line a pen with aluminum foil and cover the aluminum foil with PEG 3350 and PEG 1000 at a one to one ratio. The PEG 3350 can help prevent protein aggregation during concentration and it's an effective cryopreservative. Put the MOG tag protein containing snakeskin tubing on top of the aluminum foil and cover with PEG 8000.Let this sit at room temperature and check the volume regularly until the volume is equal to or below the estimated final volume. If the pen becomes over saturated with water during the concentration process, set up a fresh pan with aluminum foil and PEG. Samples of protein taken throughout the purification protocol or run on an SDS page gel to confirm purity.A representative gel is displayed showing the highly purified MOG tag at 31.86 kilodaltons. To verify that the MOG tag protein has folded correctly, binding of the MOG tag protein to CD19 positive, CD4 negative, nine B cells from lymph nodes from either wild type C57 black six mice or IgH MOG mice that express an immunoglobulin heavy chain specific for MOG protein was assessed using flow cytometry. This protocol requires a minimum of 10 days from beginning to end.Throughout the isolation procedure is important to keep track of the protein and remember what needs to be kept and what needs to be discarded. Don't forget when using nickel sulfate hexahydrate used in charging the nickel resin, is extremely hazardous and precaution should be taken to prevent inhalation or contact with the skin or eyes. After watching this video, you should have a good understanding of how to produce and purify your own MOG tag protein.Once purified, MOG tag protein can be emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant and used as an immunization to induce EAE. EAE induced by MOG tag can be used to study the involvement of multiple cell types such as CD4 or CDAT cells or B cells in central nervous system autoimmunity. Unlike short peptide, which is MHC restricted, protein antigen can be used in any strain of mice.

simple-efficient-production-purification-mouse-myelin-oligodendrocyte

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 ...

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) ...

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 ...

Purification and Expansion of Mouse Invariant Natural Killer T Cells for in vitro and in vivo Studies

Invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) cells are innate-like T Lymphocytes expressing a conserved semi-invariant T cell receptor (TCR) specific for self or microbial lipid antigens presented by the non-polymorphic MHC class I-related molecule CD1d. Preclinical and clinical studies support a role for iNKT cells in cancer, autoimmunity and infectious diseases. iNKT cells are very conserved throughout species and their investigation has been facilitated by mouse models, including CD1d-deficient or iNKT-deficient mice, and the possibility to unequivocally detect them in mice and men with CD1d tetramers or mAbs specific for the semi-invariant TCR. However, iNKT cells are rare and they need to be expanded to reach manageable numbers for any study. Because the generation of primary mouse iNKT cell line in vitro has proven difficult, we have set up a robust protocol to purify and expand splenic iNKT cells from the iV&#945;14-J&#945;18 transgenic mice (iV&#945;14Tg), in which iNKT cells are 30 times more frequent. We show here that primary splenic iV&#945;14Tg iNKT cells can be enriched through an immunomagnetic separation process, yielding about 95-98% pure iNKT cells. The purified iNKT cells are stimulated by anti-CD3/CD28 beads plus IL-2 and IL-7, resulting in 30-fold expansion by day +14 of the culture with 85-99% purity. The expanded iNKT cells can be easily genetically manipulated, providing an invaluable tool to dissect mechanisms of activation and function in vitro and, more importantly, also upon adoptive transfer in vivo.

We describe a rapid and robust protocol to enrich invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells from mouse spleen and expand them in vitro to suitable numbers for in vitro and in vivo studies.

Invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) cells are innate-like T Lymphocytes expressing a conserved semi-invariant T cell receptor (TCR) specific for self or ...

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 ...

Preparation and Injection of Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein (MOG35-55) Emulsion

Preparation and Injection of Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein (MOG35-55) Emulsion  

Begin by grinding 10 milligrams of freeze-dried Mycobacterium paratuberculosis to a fine powder using a mortar and pestle. Add five milliliters of Incomplete Freund's adjuvant to obtain a 10 milligram per milliliter stock solution. Store the stock at minus four degrees Celsius.Before immunization, dilute the stock solution. Then, dilute the MOG 35-55 peptide to two milligrams per milliliter and store it at minus 20 degrees Celsius. Mix equal volumes of the MOG 35-55 with the adjuvant in a five milliliter tube with a homogenizer until a thick emulsion is formed.After every 10 seconds of mixing, place the solution on ice for 20 seconds and spin the tube to recover all the solution. Transfer the emulsion into a one milliliter syringe, ensuring it is free of air bubbles. Then, fit it with a 27-gauge needle.Subcutaneously, inject 200 microliters of the emulsion into the lower back of an anesthetized mouse. Then, intraperitoneally inject a dose of pertussis toxin on day zero and two after immunization. All mice manifested an acute monophasic disease, characterized by a single peak of disability observed at 14 to 17 days, followed by a partial recovery of symptoms over the next 10 days.Mice immunized with M.paratuberculosis showed an earlier onset after immunization and greater severity in the acute phase. Both groups demonstrated similar body weights. Proliferation assay with titrated thymidine incorporation performed on the EAE mice spleen cells showed a strong proliferative response to the peptide MOG 35-55, but not to ovalbumin.Cytofluorometric analysis showed increased T-lymphocytes, dendritic cells, and monocytes in the spleen of M.paratuberculosis-immunized EAE mice compared to CFA-immunized mice. Hematoxylin and and eosin tissue analysis revealed typical paravascular and meningeal mononuclear inflammatory infiltration in the brain and spinal cord.

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 ...