Intermittent feeding attenuates clinical course of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in C57BL/6 mice

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflammatory, demyelinating disease of human central nervous system. Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) is the commonly used animal model of MS. Calorie restriction has been found to reduce inflammation and autoimmune responses and promote neuroprotection. In this study we evaluated the effects of intermittent feeding protocol of the calorie restriction in a mouse model of EAE. Fifty four female mice (C57BL/6) were used in this study. The animals were divided into two dietary groups: ad libitum (AL) (n = 29) with free access to food and water and intermittent feeding (IF) (n = 25) with access to food on alternate days. After 8 weeks, EAE was induced in animals by immunization with MOG antigen (Hooke labs, Lawrence, MA, USA) subcutaneously. AL and IF groups were then further divided into two groups each: AA (ad libitum until the end of study) (n = 16) and AI (subjected to intermittent feeding regimen after immunization day) (n = 13). The IF group was divided into II (continued intermittent feeding regimen until the end of study) (n = 13) and IA (changed to AL regimen after immunization day) (n = 12). All the animals were behaviorally monitored for 35 days after immunization and observed daily for the signs and severity of disease with EAE scoring scale [0-5] and cumulative disease index (CDI) score. Intermittent feeding significantly reduced the incidence of EAE in IF groups (AI 0%, II 18.5%, IA 22.2%, p < 0.05). In addition, intermittent feeding significantly delayed the onset of EAE in AI group (p < 0.05) and also, intermittent feeding significantly reduced the severity of disease in II and IA groups (AA vs. II, p < 0.05 & AA vs. IA p < 0.05) groups. The CDI was also significantly reduced in intermittent feeding fed groups [AI, II and IA compared to AA group (P < 0.05, <0.01, <0.05 respectively)]. Intermittent feeding regimen protocol of the calorie restriction significantly suppressed EAE incidence, induction, and severity. The results of this study suggest possible role of intermittent feeding in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis patients.