?? Application of Multiple Sclerosis Mouse Models in the Study of Autoimmune Diseases

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by demyelination, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration of the central nervous system (CNS). Mouse models of MS have played an important role in understanding the pathophysiology of autoimmune neuroinflammation and developing novel therapeutic strategies. These models help researchers study the mechanisms of immune-mediated damage, test potential treatments, and explore the role of genetic and environmental factors in MS progression. Below are some major mouse models of MS and their applications:

1?? Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model

(1) The EAE model is the most widely used mouse model of MS and is induced by immunization with myelin proteins such as myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) or adoptive transfer of myelin-reactive T cells. It mimics inflammatory demyelination and allows the study of T cell-mediated and B cell-mediated immune responses in MS.

(2) The EAE model has been used to test immunomodulatory drugs (e.g., monoclonal antibodies, cytokine inhibitors) and identify key immune pathways that drive MS progression.

2?? Cuprizone-induced demyelination model

(1) This model is induced by feeding mice cuprizone, a copper chelator that selectively destroys oligodendrocytes, leading to CNS demyelination.

(2) This model has been used to study the mechanisms of remyelination and neurodegeneration and to test therapies that promote remyelination.

3?? Theiler murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) model

(1) The TMEV model is induced by viral infection, triggering chronic demyelination and neuroinflammation.

(2) This model has been used to study virus-induced autoimmunity and to test antiviral and neuroprotective strategies.

In summary, the MS mouse model has provided valuable insights into CNS autoimmunity beyond MS, as it has helped researchers understand other autoimmune diseases such as neuromyelitis optica, autoimmune encephalitis, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). These models can therefore be used to study immune cell interactions, blood-brain barrier dysfunction, and neuroimmune regulation, leading to new therapeutic approaches targeting autoimmune neuroinflammation.

Reference

[1] Esther Melamed et al., Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience 2022 (https://doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2022.1019877)