An optimized and validated protocol for inducing chronic experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in C57BL/6J mice

Area of Science:

• Neuroimmunology
• Animal Models of Disease

Background:

• Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a key model for multiple sclerosis (MS) research.
• Variability in EAE induction protocols, particularly pertussis toxin (PTx) dosing, impacts data reproducibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of PTx dosage and batch potency on EAE induction in C57BL/6J mice.
• To establish an optimized protocol for consistent EAE induction, enhancing data comparability.

Main Methods:

• Utilized MOG35-55-induced chronic EAE in C57BL/6J mice.
• Adjusted PTx dosage based on batch potency to determine optimal dosing for EAE induction.

Main Results:

• PTx dosage, adjusted for potency, significantly influences EAE development in a dose-dependent manner.
• The optimized protocol consistently induced EAE with predictable onset (10.5 ± 1.08 days) and peak severity (day 16).
• Achieved typical chronic EAE course with mild remission, demonstrating protocol efficacy.

Conclusions:

• Standardizing PTx potency is crucial for reliable and reproducible EAE data in MS research.
• The developed protocol enhances animal welfare by reducing the number of mice needed for experiments.
• Implementation of this method improves the overall quality and consistency of EAE study outcomes.