Animal models for Multiple Sclerosis (MS): imperfect but useful and important

MS is a disease of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). When cells of the immune system attack the protective sheath surrounding nerve fibres this interferes with messages between brain and other parts of the body resulting in loss of function of some parts of the body. Why and how the immune cells attack the body is unknown. Because it is difficult to study this in humans animal models are often used.

Animal models are also used for drug studies against MS. The most promising and safe drugs can be tested in humans. Researchers of the department of Immunobiology at the BPRC are using the marmoset as model for MS. In the leading journal Trends in Molecular Medicine they review this subject and compare the marmoset model to other (rodent) models.

Marmosets share a number of similarities with humans: for example the immune system of the animals are continuously exposed to environmental factors/pathogens. This plays an vital role in the MS disease process. In contrast to rodents, in marmosets an MS like disease profile can be induced in which a specific cell type of the immune system  plays an important role. This strongly resembles the process of chronic MS in humans. These features underline the importance of the marmoset model and reveal that this model can be used in specific instances to bridge and complement the gap between rodent models and humans.