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Updated: Jan 1, 2026
Skeletal Phenotype Analysis of a Conditional Stat3 Deletion Mouse Model
Published on: July 3, 2020
Companion Animals as Models for Inhibition of STAT3 and STAT5
Matthias Kieslinger1, Alexander Swoboda1, Nina Kramer1
1Division of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Abstract:
The use of transgenic mouse models has revolutionized the study of many human diseases. However, murine models are limited in their representation of spontaneously arising tumors and often lack key clinical signs and pathological changes. Thus, a closer representation of complex human diseases is of high therapeutic relevance. Given the high failure rate of drugs at the clinical trial phase (i.e., around 90%), there is a critical need for additional clinically relevant animal models. Companion animals like cats and dogs display chronic inflammatory or neoplastic diseases that closely resemble the human counterpart. Cat and dog patients can also be treated with clinically approved inhibitors or, if ethics and drug safety studies allow, pilot studies can be conducted using, e.g., inhibitors of the evolutionary conserved JAK-STAT pathway. The incidence by which different types of cancers occur in companion animals as well as mechanisms of disease are unique between humans and companion animals, where one can learn from each other. Taking advantage of this situation, existing inhibitors of known oncogenic STAT3/5 or JAK kinase signaling pathways can be studied in the context of rare human diseases, benefitting both, the development of drugs for human use and their application in veterinary medicine.
Insights
Companion animals like dogs and cats offer valuable models for human diseases, particularly cancer. Studying these animals can accelerate drug development for both human and veterinary medicine.
Area of Science:
- Comparative oncology
- Translational medicine
- Animal models of human disease
Background:
- Transgenic mouse models are widely used but have limitations in replicating spontaneous tumors and clinical signs of human diseases.
- High drug failure rates in clinical trials necessitate the development of more clinically relevant animal models.
- Companion animals (dogs and cats) exhibit diseases that closely mimic human conditions, offering a valuable translational resource.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the therapeutic relevance of using companion animals as models for complex human diseases.
- To emphasize the need for alternative animal models due to the limitations of current murine models.
- To explore the potential of studying drug efficacy in companion animals for both human and veterinary applications.
Main Methods:
- Analyzing the natural occurrence of chronic inflammatory and neoplastic diseases in companion animals.
- Investigating the potential for pilot studies using clinically approved inhibitors, such as Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway inhibitors.
- Comparing cancer incidence and disease mechanisms between humans and companion animals.
Main Results:
- Companion animals present chronic diseases that closely resemble human counterparts, offering high therapeutic relevance.
- JAK-STAT pathway inhibitors can be studied in companion animals, potentially benefiting drug development for rare human diseases.
- Unique insights into disease mechanisms can be gained by studying cancers in both humans and companion animals.
Conclusions:
- Companion animals serve as crucial models for human diseases, improving the translational value of preclinical research.
- Targeting conserved signaling pathways like JAK-STAT in companion animals can advance drug development for human and veterinary medicine.
- Cross-species learning from companion animal diseases accelerates the discovery and application of novel therapeutics.
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