Cystic fibrosis mouse models

C Guilbault, Z Saeed, GP Downey… - American journal of …, 2007 - atsjournals.org
American journal of respiratory cell and molecular biology, 2007atsjournals.org
Animal models of cystic fibrosis (CF) are powerful tools that enable the study of the
mechanisms and complexities of human disease. Murine models have several intrinsic
advantages compared with other animal models, including lower cost, maintenance, and
rapid reproduction rate. Mice can be easily genetically manipulated by making transgenic or
knockout mice, or by backcrossing to well-defined inbred strains in a reasonably short
period of time. However, anatomic and immunologic differences between mice and humans …
Animal models of cystic fibrosis (CF) are powerful tools that enable the study of the mechanisms and complexities of human disease. Murine models have several intrinsic advantages compared with other animal models, including lower cost, maintenance, and rapid reproduction rate. Mice can be easily genetically manipulated by making transgenic or knockout mice, or by backcrossing to well-defined inbred strains in a reasonably short period of time. However, anatomic and immunologic differences between mice and humans mean that murine models have inherent limitations that must be considered when interpreting the results obtained from experimental models and applying these to the pathogenesis of CF disease in humans. This review will focus on the different CF mouse models available that represent diverse phenotypes observed in humans with CF and that can help researchers elucidate the diverse functions of the CFTR protein.
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