Experimental models of autoimmune demyelination

I. INTRODUCTION Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a cell-mediated autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) that has served as a useful model of CNS inflammation, an animal model for the human disease multiple sclerosis (MS), and an easily evaluable and manipulable model for organ specific autoimmune diseases in general (1). EAE is the most commonly employed animal model of MS, despite differences in the two conditions. The primary difference between these disorders is that EAE must be induced in animals while MS occurs spontaneously in humans. A reliable spontaneously occurring inflammatory demyelinating animal model would enhance our experimental capabilities.