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Modeling Infectious Diseases in Mice with a "Humanized" Immune System
Yan Li1,2, James P Di Santo1,2
1Innate Immunity Unit, Immunology Department, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
Microbiology Spectrum
|April 7, 2019
Summary
Human immune system (HIS) mice allow researchers to study human immune responses to pathogens. These advanced models provide stable engraftment for analyzing infections in vivo.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Disease Research
- Animal Models
Background:
- Human immune system (HIS) mice are developed by transplanting human immune cells into immunodeficient mice.
- The field has advanced, leading to improved human cell engraftment and graft stability in HIS mice.
- HIS mice are crucial for studying human immune responses against microbial infections in vivo.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the evolution and development of HIS mouse models.
- To discuss various strategies employed for humanizing mice.
- To highlight the application of HIS mice in studying bacterial infections relevant to human diseases.
Main Methods:
- Development of immunodeficient mouse strains.
- Transplantation of human immune cells or progenitor cells.
- Optimization of humanization techniques for engraftment and stability.
Main Results:
- Current HIS mouse models achieve elevated levels of human cell engraftment.
- HIS mice demonstrate stable human immune cell grafts.
- HIS mice enable the study of human immune cells interacting with bona fide pathogenic microbes.
Conclusions:
- HIS mice represent a clinically relevant model for studying human immune responses to pathogens.
- These models are invaluable for investigating bacterial infections and developing therapeutic strategies.
- Continued advancements in HIS mouse models enhance their utility in preclinical research.