Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) is the most commonly used model for Multiple Sclerosis (MS). EAE resembles the human disase in many ways. However, based on the heterogeneity of disease course and lesion pathology in MS it is difficult to model all aspects of MS in one animal model. Thus, the availability of different rat strains, immunogens and adjuvants is very valuable since it allows inducing different types of disease and pathologies. In addition to the actively induced models, the CD4+ T cell dependency of the rat EAE models allows for adoptive T cell transfer of autoimmune T cells after ex vivo re-stimulation. For more detailed information on our models, see disease specific information sheets.

Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) is the most commonly used model for MS, a human inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS), and resembles disease in many aspects. EAE is an antigen driven autoimmune model in which immunization against myelin antigens elicits strong T cell responses, which initiates its pathology with CNS myelin destruction. EAE is induced by immunization with CNS tissue or myelin peptides. Different immunization protocols result in varying disease characteristics.

Rat Models of MS

Mouse Models of MS