EAE is a good model of MS

Baker D, Amor S. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis is a good model of multiple sclerosis if used wisely. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2014 Sep;3(5):555-64. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2014.05.002.

Although multiple sclerosis is a uniquely human disease, many pathological features can be induced in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) models following induction of central nervous system-directed autoimmunity. Whilst it is an imperfect set of models, EAE can be used to identify pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutics. However, the failure to translate many treatments from EAE into human benefit has led some to question the validity of the EAE model. Whilst differences in biology between humans and other species may account for this, it is suggested here that the failure to translate may be considerably influenced by human activity. Basic science contributes to failings in aspects of experimental design and over-interpretation of results and lack of transparency and reproducibility of the studies. Importantly issues in trial design by neurologists and other actions of the pharmaceutical industry destine therapeutics to failure and terminate basic science projects. However animal, particularly mechanism-orientated, studies have increasingly identified useful treatments and provided mechanistic ideas on which most hypothesis-led clinical research is based. Without EAE and other animal studies, clinical investigations will continue to be "look-see" exercises, which will most likely provide more misses than hits and will fail the people with MS that they aim to serve.


This paper has just appeared on pubmed

We were asked to do a counterpiece to
Behan PO, Chaudhuri A. EAE is not a useful model for demyelinating disease. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2014;3(5):565-74, 


However, rather than read a rant against EAE and then try and defend a position on which we may not be interested in defending or write a paper about how they don't know what they are taliking about, we wrote our own unrelated paper . 

This does not try to defend the indefensible but indicates that both basic scientists could conspire to bring about a drug's down fall. Notably, Neurologists play a part in this process. 

Whilst it is a clinical pass time to beat up the animal work..the failure of animal studies to deliver human treatments is such a common theme, it can't always be the animals fault. 

Do Neurologist play any part in the downfall of treatments...I think almost certainly.....yes.

It's always .....easy to make excuses in hindsight.

http://multiple-sclerosis-research.blogspot.com/2014/05/failure-to-translate.html

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