Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein fragment. MOG(35-55) induces autoimmune encephalomyelitis in transgenic rodents.

Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) is a type I integral membrane protein on the extracellular surface of oligodendrocytes in the outermost lamellae of the myelin sheath. Its extracellular localisation facilitates its functions as a homophilic adhesion receptor, where it plays a role in the completion, compaction and maintenance of the myelin.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, demyelinating and neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by myelin destruction and axonal degeneration. MOG has been identified as a key autoantigen for demyelination in MS and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model that resembles MS. Although MOG is a minor component of the CNS, it is highly immunogenic and can stimulate the activation of T-cell and B-cell responses.

Studies using various MOG derived peptides show that the MOG (35-55) fragment is the most potent encephalitogen and the immunodominant epitope for T cell response. MOG (35-55) induced EAE models can be used to recapitulate all three MS subtypes, which are relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), primary progressive MS (PPMS) and secondary progressive MS (SPMS). Depending on the MOG (35-55) dose, immunized mice are presented with varying degrees of neuropathogical impairment, immune infiltration, ascending paralysis, demyelinating lesions, axon loss and gliosis in the spinal cord and brain. MOG (35-55) induced EAE models can provide an insight into elucidating the immunopathological mechanism of MS progression and facilitate in the development of novel therapeutics.