The now classical immunization experiments with pSAgs have not only led to the identification of the pSAgs of degenerative diseases but also to the development of the currently used and most valuable inducible animal models of human degenerative diseases, such as the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)/myelin basic protein (MBP)-induced rodent and marmoset experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE) models resembling human MS, the proinsulin-induced mouse model of human DM1 and the collagen type 2-induced rodent and marmoset collagen type 2-induced arthritis models resembling human RA. The gene discussed is MOG; the disease is rheumatoid arthritis.