title: Animal models for basic and translational research in reconstructive transplantation.
abstract: Reconstructive transplantation represents a bona fide option for select patients with devastating tissue loss, which could better restore the appearance, anatomy, and function than any other conventional treatment currently available. Despite favorable outcomes, broad clinical application of reconstructive transplantation is limited by the potential side effects of chronic multidrug immunosuppression. Thus, any reconstructive measures to improve these non-life-threatening conditions must address a delicate balance of risks and benefits. Today, several exciting novel therapeutic strategies, such as the implementation of cellular therapies including bone marrow or stem cells that integrate the concepts of immune regulation with those of nerve regeneration, are on the horizon. The development of reliable and reproducible small and large animal models is essential for the study of the unique immunological and biological aspects of vascularized composite allografts and to translate such novel immunoregulatory and tolerance-inducing strategies and therapeutic concepts from the bench to bedside. This review provides an overview of the multitude of small and large animal models that have been particularly designed for basic and translational research related to reconstructive transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryand 21205, USA. brandacher@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brandacher
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grahammer
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sucher
authors.forename: Wei-Ping Andrew
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D023421:Models, Animal; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D044968:Regenerative Medicine; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents