Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a widely used animal model of the human demyelinating disease multiple sclerosis. EAE is initiated by immunization with myelin antigens in adjuvant or by adoptive transfer of myelin-specific T cells, resulting in inflammatory infiltrates and demyelination in the central nervous system. Induction of EAE in rodents typically results in ascending flaccid paralysis with inflammation primarily targeting the spinal cord. This protocol describes passive induction of EAE by adoptive transfer of T cells isolated from mice primed with myelin antigens into naïve mice. The advantages of using this method versus active induction of EAE are discussed.

Note: In the version of this article initially published online, part of a sentence on p. 1957, in Step 11B(ii), should have been deleted. The sentence should read: “If skewing toward TH17 cells, IL-23 (10 ng/ml) can be included in the media to promote T cell survival.” This error has been corrected in all versions of the article.