Mouse models of multiple sclerosis: experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and Theiler's virus-induced demyelinating disease.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and Theiler's murine encephalitis virus-induced demyelinating disease (TMEV-IDD) are two clinically relevant murine models of multiple sclerosis (MS). Like MS, both are characterized by mononuclear cell infiltrate into the central nervous system and demyelination. EAE is induced by either the administration of protein or peptide in adjuvant or by the adoptive transfer of encephalitogenic T-cell blasts into naïve recipients. The relative merits of each of these protocols are compared. Depending on the type of question asked, different mouse strains and peptides are used. Different disease courses are observed with different strains and different peptides in active EAE. These variations are addressed, and grading of mice in EAE is discussed. In addition to EAE induction, useful references for other disease indicators, such as delayed-type hypersensitivity, in vitro proliferation, and immunohistochemistry, are provided. TMEV-IDD is a useful model for understanding the potential viral etiology of MS. This chapter provides detailed information on the preparation of viral stocks and subsequent intracerebral infection of mice. In addition, virus plaque assay and disease assessment are discussed. Recombinant TMEV strains have been created for the study of molecular mimicry; these strains incorporate 30 various amino acid myelin epitopes within the leader region of TMEV.