The clinical course of EAE is reflected by the dynamics of the neuroantigen-specific T cell compartment in the blood

Due to the limited numbers of PBMCs that can be obtained from the blood of individual mice, the key question whether central disease parameters such as onset, progression and seventy correlate with the magnitude and cytokine quality of the T cell response in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) has remained unanswered Here we introduce an ELISPOT based PBMC test system in which as little as 150 mu l of murine blood are sufficient, allowing to bleed mice repeatedly while continuing to observe the clinical course of EAE Using this technique, we demonstrate that longitudinal measurements of antigen specific IFN gamma and IL 17 production in the blood are a highly suitable approach to predict the disease outcome in remitting relapsing PLP 139-151 and chronic MOG 35-55 induced EAE of SJL/J and C57BL/6 mice, respectively Our data propound cytokine monitoring as promising tool in the quest for more efficient diagnostic and prognostic options in human multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc All rights reserved