Experimental animal models for COPD: a methodological review

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Toxicology
• Animal Research

Background:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive respiratory disorder characterized by inflammation and tissue breakdown.
• Animal models are essential for studying COPD mechanisms and treatments due to ethical considerations in human studies.
• These models, while not perfect replicas, offer valuable insights into human COPD pathophysiology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize information on animal models used in COPD research.
• To identify common methods for inducing COPD in animal models.
• To outline the parameters typically measured in these studies.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect databases.
• English articles published up to November 2015 were included.
• Keywords related to COPD, animal models, exposure methods, pathophysiological changes, and biomarkers were used, resulting in 151 eligible studies.

Main Results:

• Mice, guinea pigs, and rats are the primary species used for COPD animal models.
• Common induction methods include cigarette smoke (CS), intra-tracheal lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and intranasal elastase.
• Lung pathology, inflammation (cells and mediators), and tracheal responsiveness (TR) were the main measured parameters, with variations in inducer dosage and duration.

Conclusions:

• This review provides a comprehensive overview of COPD animal models, including species, induction techniques, and measured outcomes.
• The findings are valuable for researchers selecting appropriate animal models, induction methods, and measurement parameters for COPD studies.
• This information aids in advancing the understanding and treatment of human COPD through preclinical research.