Induction of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in the NIH minipig
B A Singer1, N J Tresser, J A Frank
1Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, Bldg. 10, Rm. 5B16, Bethesda, MA 20892, USA. bnvsinger@earthlink.net
Abstract:
Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) was induced in the NIH minipig to create a large animal model of multiple sclerosis with a well-characterized immune system. Sixteen NIH minipigs were inoculated with minipig spinal cord homogenate (SCH). The clinical course was primarily monophasic, but re-induction was possible. CNS and blood lymphocytes specifically proliferated to SCH. Flow cytometry of CNS-isolated cells and SCH-stimulated PBMC revealed a shift to CD4(+) CD8(+) cells. Pathology demonstrated demyelination in the CNS white matter with perivascular mononuclear cell infiltrates of CD3(+)CD4(+)CD45(+) lymphocytes with a subset CD8(+). Pathology and in vitro SCH responses implicate a central role of CD4(+) lymphocytes in swine EAE.
