Practical guide to the induction of relapsing progressive experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in the Biozzi ABH mouse

Biozzi ABH mice develop a reproducible, relapsing–remitting form of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) that becomes secondary progressive with disease duration. The relapses observed are T-cell dependent and can be inhibited by immune tolerance induction. In contrast the progressive neurodegeneration is T cell-independent and continues despite the re-induction of immune tolerance. Here we present a practical guide to EAE induction in the ABH mouse and approaches used to control relapses such that both autoimmune-independent and autoimmune-dependent mechanisms of neurodegeneration can be explored. Disease-related weight changes are associated with blood–brain barrier dysfunction and clinical disease. A new method for detecting neurodegeneration is described along with new experimental details that will aid in the undertaking of studies in EAE in mice, with particularly emphasis on ABH mice.