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Behavioral aspects of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
1Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mount Scopus, Jerusalem, Israel.
Journal of Neuroimmunology
|February 23, 2000
Summary
Chronic neuroautoimmune inflammation, modeled by experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), induces sickness behaviors similar to depression. These behavioral changes in EAE mice precede neurological symptoms, offering a model for multiple sclerosis (MS) depressive symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Autoimmune Diseases
Background:
- Acute inflammation is linked to depressive-like sickness behavior in humans and animals.
- The relationship between chronic neuroautoimmune inflammation and similar behavioral syndromes requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if chronic neuroautoimmune inflammation, specifically experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), is associated with sickness behavior.
- To investigate the temporal relationship between behavioral symptoms and neurological signs in EAE.
- To explore EAE as a model for depressive symptomatology in multiple sclerosis (MS).
Main Methods:
- Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) was induced in female SJL/J mice via adoptive transfer of lymph node cells.
- Sickness behavior was assessed by measuring anorexia, weight loss, reduced social exploration, and decreased sucrose preference.
- Behavioral and neurological symptoms were monitored throughout the disease course.
Main Results:
- EAE induced components of sickness behavior, including anorexia, weight loss, reduced social exploration, and decreased sucrose preference.
- These behavioral symptoms emerged during the acute phase of EAE and resolved in later phases.
- The onset and recovery of behavioral symptoms preceded the onset and recovery of neurological signs.
Conclusions:
- Chronic neuroautoimmune inflammation in EAE is associated with sickness behavior.
- The temporal dissociation between behavioral and neurological symptoms suggests a distinct neuroinflammatory mechanism for behavioral changes.
- EAE-induced behavioral changes may serve as a valuable preclinical model for understanding and treating depressive symptomatology in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.