Mouse Models for Human Skin Transplantation: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Dermatology and immunology
• Preclinical research models

Background:

• Immunodeficient mouse models with human skin xenografts are crucial for studying skin conditions.
• Graft size and follow-up duration vary in relevance based on research objectives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and analyze existing immunodeficient mouse models with human skin xenografts.
• To identify optimal model characteristics for diverse research applications in dermatology.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was conducted using MEDLINE/PubMed (1970-2020) adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
• Included studies described human skin grafted onto mice, excluding other animal models or skin substitutes.
• Analyzed parameters included mouse strain, human skin origin, graft dimensions, follow-up period, and study objectives.

Main Results:

• Ninety-one models were reviewed, categorized into five applications: physiology (25), immunology (17), carcinogenesis (9), skin diseases (25), and wound healing/scars (15).
• Carcinogenesis models featured longer follow-up periods (253 days), while wound healing models utilized larger grafts (2.54 cm²).
• Graft size and follow-up duration varied significantly across different research applications.

Conclusions:

• The choice of mouse model for human skin xenografts should be tailored to the specific research application.
• Considerations for model selection include graft size, follow-up duration, immunosuppression protocols, and cost-effectiveness.
• This is the first systematic review to comprehensively analyze these models for human skin transplantation research.