Multiple linked quantitative trait loci within the Tmevd2/Eae3 interval control the severity of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in DBA/2J mice

Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus-induced demyelination (TMEVD) and experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) are the principal animal models of multiple sclerosis (MS). Previously, we provided evidence that Tmevd2 and Eae3 may represent either a shared susceptibility locus or members of a gene complex controlling susceptibility to central nervous system inflammatory demyelinating disease. To explore the genetic relationship between Tmevd2 and Eae3 , we generated a D2.C- Tmevd2 interval-specific congenic (ISC) line and three overlapping interval-specific recombinant congenic (ISRC) lines in which the Tmevd2- resistant allele from BALB/cByJ was introgressed onto the TMEVD-susceptible DBA/2J background. These mice, all H2 d , were studied for susceptibility to EAE elicited by immunization with proteolipid protein peptide 180–199. Compared with DBA/2J mice, D2.C- Tmevd2 mice developed a significantly less severe clinical disease course and EAE pathology in the spinal cord, confirming the existence of Eae3 and its linkage to Tmevd2 in this strain combination. Compared with DBA/2J and D2.C- Tmevd2 , all three ISRC lines exhibited clinical disease courses of intermediate severity. Neither differences in ex vivo antigen-specific cytokine nor proliferative responses uniquely cosegregated with differences in disease severity. These results indicate that multiple quantitative trait loci (QTLs) within the Tmevd2 / Eae3 interval influence EAE severity, one of which includes a homology region for a QTL found in MS by admixture mapping.