Main description:

This detailed volume covers molecular biology, cellular biology, biomarkers, imaging, and neuropathological methods and techniques to explore multiple sclerosis (MS), with a special emphasis on disease models. With so much effort needed to elucidate basic disease mechanisms, to clone disease relevant genes, to define novel biomarkers, and to discover novel and improved therapeutic and curative treatments, this book serves to aid researchers in accomplishing these enormous goals. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Practical and easy to use, Multiple Sclerosis: Methods and Protocols will empower the reader to perform novel research regarding pathophysiology and treatment for MS.

Contents:

Part I: Molecular Biology Techniques

1. Positional Gene Cloning in Experimental Populations

Maja Jagodic and Pernilla Stridh

2. Generation of Transgenic Rats Using Lentiviral Vectors

Holger M. Reichardt and Henrike J. Fischer

3. DNA Vaccination Techniques

Nicolas Fissolo, Xavier Montalban, and Manuel Comabella

Part II: Cellular Techniques

4. Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: Isolation, Freezing, Thawing, and Culture

Christine Riedhammer, Dagmar Halbritter, and Robert Weissert

5. ELISPOT Techniques

Niannian Ji and Thomas G. Forsthuber

6. Isolation of Central Nervous System (CNS) Infiltrating Cells

Ilgiz A. Mufazalov and Ari Waisman

7. Methods for Ex Vivo Analysis of Immune Cell Function from the Central Nervous System

Darryl G. Turner, Melanie D. Leech, Richard A. O'Connor, and Stephen M. Anderton

Part III: Biomarker Techniques

8. Neurofilament Light Chain Determination from Peripheral Blood Samples

Marguerite Limberg, Giulio Disanto, Christian Barro, and Jens Kuhle

9. Detection of

Autoantibodies Against Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Diseases

Melania Spadaro and Edgar Meinl

10. Myelinating Cultures: An In Vitro Tool to Identify Demyelinating and Axopathic Autoantibodies

Maren Lindner and Christopher Linington

Part IV: Imaging Techniques

11. In Vivo Visualization of (Auto-) Immune Processes in the Central Nervous System of Rodents

Christian Schlager, Tanja Litke, Alexander Flugel, and Francesca Odoardi

12. Optical Coherence Tomography to Assess Neurodegeneration in Multiple Sclerosis

Axel Petzold

Part V: Disease Models

13. Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Mice

Rachael L. Terry, Igal Ifergan, and Stephen D. Miller

14. Actively Induced Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Rats

Robert Weissert

15. Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Marmosets

S. Anwar Jagessar, Karin Dijkman, Jordon Dunham, Bert A. 't Hart, and Yolanda S. Kap

Part VI: Neuropathological Techniques

16. Neuropathological Techniques to Investigate CNS Pathology in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

(EAE)

Karin Steinbach and Doron Merkler

17. Neuropathological Techniques to Investigate Central Nervous System Sections in Multiple Sclerosis

Jan Bauer and Hans Lassmann