RNA-sequencing analysis of colon tissue in a murine EAE model after dietary tryptophan deprivation.

In the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model we found that omission of the essential amino acid tryptophan (trp) abrogates central nervous system (CNS) autoimmunity. Impaired encephalitogenic T responses were accompanied by an inflammatory response in the colonic mucosa, as well as a profound shift in the gut microbiota. Here, we performed transcriptional profiling of colon tissue by RNA-sequencing 14 days after disease induction in mice that received a trp-free diet or a matched control group to identify key networks that drive this immunosuppressive effect. Two groups of female C57BL/6J wildtype mice were immunized with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)35-55 in Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA) at the age of 7-8 weeks. One group received a trp-free diet from day 0 on until the end of the experiment. Distal colon tissue for RNA-sequencing analysis was collected 14 days post-immunization.