Autoimmune neuropathies: insights from animal models

Abstract

Autoimmune neuropathies comprise a diverse group of conditions resulting from an immune attack on the peripheral nervous system. In some of these disorders, the antigenic target has been identified. In other conditions such as chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, the initial trigger and the antigenic target remain elusive. Animal models have provided some important information regarding their pathogenetic mechanisms. This review summarizes the background information and recent highlights from studies in animal models such as experimental autoimmune neuritis and spontaneous autoimmune polyneuropathy in B7-2 knockout non-obese diabetic mice.