Humanized Animal Model Development Service
Humanized animal models bridge the gap between traditional animal models and human biology, enabling researchers to study human-specific processes, diseases, and potential therapies in a more accurate and relevant context. As a leader in rare disease research, our company offers comprehensive humanized animal model development services tailored to meet the specific needs of researchers. Our team of skilled scientists and technicians employs cutting-edge technologies and adheres to stringent protocols to guarantee the effective development and characterization of humanized animal models.
Introduction to Humanized Animal Models
A humanized animal model refers to an animal, typically a mouse, in which certain human cells, tissues, or genes have been introduced. The mouse immune system has evolved to be highly resistant to foreign cells and tissues. This poses a challenge when trying to create humanized mice. To overcome this obstacle, researchers typically disable the recipient mouse's immune system and then transplant human tissues or cells. As a result, the development of new immunodeficient mice plays a crucial role in the advancement of humanized mouse models. Currently, the more classic humanized mouse models include the following:
- Hu-PBL-scid model
- Hu-SRC-scid model
- BLT (bone marrow/liver/thymus) model
- Transplanted human organoids
- Mouse-human hybrid
Fig.1 Humanized mouse models. (Allen, Todd M., et al., 2019)Development of Humanized Animal Models
Developing a humanized animal model involves several key principles and methods. One common approach is the engraftment of human cells or tissues into immunodeficient animals. For example, human hematopoietic stem cells can be transplanted into mice lacking a functional immune system, resulting in the development of a humanized immune system within the animal.
In addition, genetic engineering techniques such as CRISPR-Cas9 have revolutionized the creation of humanized animal models. This method allows for precise editing of the animal's genome, enabling the introduction of human genes or the modification of existing genes to simulate human genetic variations associated with diseases.
Table 1 Representative new-generation humanized mouse models. (Fujiwara, Shigeyoshi., 2018)
| Human cells and/or tissues that are reconstituted | Functions of reconstituted human cells/tissues; Application of the model | Mouse strain | Transplanted human cells/tissues |
|---|---|---|---|
| Immune system components (B, T, NK cells, macrophages, dendritic cells) | Immune responses to antigens and infections; Modeling infectious diseases, allergy, and autoimmunity | NOG, BRG, NSG, and others | HSCs, PBMCs |
| Immune system components (T, B, NK cells, macrophages, dendritic cells) | T-cell responses to antigens and infections restricted by human MHC; Modeling infectious diseases, allergy, and autoimmunity | NOD/scid, BRG, NSG | Fetal liver, thymus, and HSCs (BLT) |
| Hepatocytes | HBV, HCV, and Plasmodium infections; Analysis of drug metabolism | uPA/scid, Fah−/−Rag2−/−Il2rg−/−, TK-NOG | Hepatocytes (including hepatic stem cells) |
| Hepatocytes and immune system components | HBV and HCV infection and pathogenesis | NSG-A2, BRG-AFC8 | Hepatocytes (including hepatic stem cells) and HSCs |
| Uterine endometrium | Hormone-dependent proliferation, differentiation, and tissue breakdown | NOG | Uterine endometrial cells |
| Skin | Modeling N.meningitidis infection | Scid/beige | Skin |
| Skin and immune system components | Allograft rejection | NSG | Skin and PBMCs |
| Islet (β cells) | Restoration of glucose homeostasis | NOD Rag1−/−Il2rg−/−Ins2Akita | Islet |
| Islet (β cells) and immune system components | Allograft rejection of human islet (modeling type-1 diabetes) | NOD Rag1−/−Il2rg−/−Ins2Akita | Islet and HSCs |
| Oligodendrocytes | Myelination, enhanced long-term potentiation | Rag2−/− | GPCs |
| Neurons, astroglia, oligodendroglia | Synapse formation | P0 Rag1−/− | NPCs derived from iPSCs |
Our Services
Each research project focused on rare diseases is distinct and requires a personalized approach. Hence, we offer customized model development services to fulfill specific research requirements. Our dedicated team collaborates closely with researchers to select suitable animal strains, design the experimental protocol, and provide expertise in utilizing humanized animal models for drug safety evaluation and pharmacokinetics research. This ensures the successful development of tailored humanized animal models that align with the unique needs of each research endeavor.
- Animal Species for Model Development
-Mouse
-Rat
-Rabbit-Pig
-Dog-Monkey
-Cat-Zebrafish
-Others - Methods of Humanized Model Development
-Engraftment of Human Cells or Tissues
- Types of Humanized Model Development
- Humanized CD34+ (huCD34) Model Development
- Humanized PBMC (huPBMC) Model Development
- Humanized Drug Target Model Development
-Humanized Immune-Checkpoint Models
-Humanized Cytokine Models
-Humanized Cytokines Receptor Models
-Humanized GPCR Models-Humanized Tumor Target Models
-Humanized Complement Models
-Humanized Metabolic Target Models
-Humanized Viral Infection Receptor Models
Why Choose Us?
As a prominent company in the field, we take pride in offering a comprehensive array of services dedicated to the development of humanized animal models. Our expertise and proficiency enable us to provide cutting-edge solutions that cater to the diverse needs of the rare disease research community. Through our humanized animal model development services, we aim to support researchers in their pursuit of scientific breakthroughs. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us for more details and quotation information of related services.
References
- Allen, Todd M., et al. "Humanized immune system mouse models: progress, challenges, and opportunities." Nature immunology 20.7 (2019): 770-774.
- Fujiwara, Shigeyoshi. "Humanized mice: a brief overview on their diverse applications in biomedical research." Journal of cellular physiology 233.4 (2018): 2889-2901.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.