title: Mouse models of autoimmune diseases.
abstract: Significant progress has been made in past decades in our understanding of the basic mechanisms underlying autoimmune diseases. Nevertheless, many questions remain unanswered, in particular regarding the mechanisms at very early stages of these diseases. Reliable animal models are of crucial importance in basic research and may help us to understand central disease pathways. They are also indispensable for pre-clinical drug testing. Here we present and discuss two mouse models of rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, respectively. In experimental studies using the models of collagen-induced arthritis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, the efficacy of new biological agents has been tested, which paved the way for clinical trials. A further interesting field where mouse models may provide valuable informations, is the identification of susceptibility genes for autoimmune diseases. Overall, in some instances studies with inbred strains may have an advantage over human studies, because environmental factors may easily be controlled and the genetic differences between different mouse strains are better characterized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany. Andreia.deCastroMarques@uk-sh.de
authors.forename: Andreia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Susen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D018448:Models, Immunological; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents