Animal models for Multiple Sclerosis: common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) in between rat and human

Comparative medicine is experiencing a flourishing era due to the contribution of valuable information obtained from comparative genetic mapping. In this perspective, animai models for complex human diseases, like neurodegenerative diseases, provide an indispensable tool for a better understanding of pathogenetic meehanisms and the development of new therapies. The present paper deseribes the non-human primate model for human multiple sclerosis (MS), namely experimental allergic enphalomyelitis (EAE) in a New World monkey, the common marmoset Callithrix jacchus. Due to close phylogeny and high homology of immune and nervous system genes with humans, this model is adequate to enhanee the development of novel therapeutic agents for MS. This paper discusses the experimental design, the statistical analysis as well as the ethical implications when moving from laboratory rodents to non-human primate and human protocols.