Cardiac phenotype in mouse models of systemic autoimmunity

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Immunology
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Systemic autoimmune diseases (SADs) significantly increase cardiovascular complication risks.
• Cardiac issues in SADs stem from inflammation-driven atherosclerosis and direct autoimmune attack.
• Existing knowledge on diagnosing and treating cardiac involvement in SADs requires enhancement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review cardiac phenotypes in common mouse models of systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic sclerosis.
• To provide a decision framework for researchers selecting mouse models for studying heart involvement in systemic autoimmunity.
• To highlight lesser-known but relevant models for mechanistic and therapeutic investigations.

Main Methods:

• Systematic collation of data on cardiac phenotypes.
• Analysis of inducible, spontaneous, and engineered mouse models.
• Focus on models of systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic sclerosis.

Main Results:

• Detailed characterization of cardiac involvement across various SAD mouse models.
• Identification of specific cardiac manifestations associated with different autoimmune diseases in models.
• Evaluation of the suitability of different models for specific research questions.

Conclusions:

• Mouse models are crucial for understanding cardiac complications in systemic autoimmune diseases.
• A structured approach to model selection is necessary for effective research.
• Further research using appropriate models can improve diagnosis and treatment strategies for cardiac issues in autoimmune patients.