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Murine and Humanized Mouse Models in Autoimmune Disease Research and Therapeutics Development
Sameena Nikhat1, Suman Bose1,2, Mohsen Khosravi-Maharlooei1,3
1Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ 85054, USA.
Biology
|July 28, 2026
Summary
This review compares conventional mouse models and humanized mouse models for studying autoimmune diseases like IBD, MS, T1D, and RA. It guides researchers in selecting appropriate models for better understanding disease mechanisms and developing new therapies.
Area of Science:
- Immunology and Autoimmune Disease Research
- Translational Medicine and Drug Development
Background:
- Autoimmune diseases result from immune tolerance breakdown, influenced by genetics, environment, and microbiota.
- Current mouse models struggle to replicate human autoimmune disease complexity and heterogeneity.
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Type-1 Diabetes (T1D), and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) are key areas of study.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and compare conventional murine and humanized mouse models for studying autoimmune diseases.
- To highlight standardized scoring systems for interpreting experimental results in autoimmune disease research.
- To guide researchers in selecting optimal models for specific research questions and therapeutic development.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of conventional murine models and humanized mouse models.
- Summary of disease-specific scoring systems: clinical indices, histopathology, imaging, cytokine profiling, autoantibody assessment, and human immune-cell readouts.
- Literature review focusing on models for IBD, MS, T1D, and RA.
Main Results:
- Conventional murine models offer experimental control and mechanistic insights.
- Humanized models enhance the assessment of human immune responses and patient-specific biology.
- Limitations of humanized models include incomplete immune reconstitution and graft-versus-host disease.
Conclusions:
- Both conventional and humanized mouse models are crucial for autoimmune disease research.
- Informed model selection is essential for advancing autoimmune disease biology and translational therapeutic development.
- A comparative framework aids in tailoring model choice to specific research objectives.
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