Xenograft animal models involve transplanting human or non-human tissues, cells or tumors into immunocompromised animals, such as mice or rats, for the purpose of studying the behavior and response of the transplanted tissue in vivo. Here are some key aspects of xenograft animal models:
- Purpose: These models are commonly used in preclinical research to study human diseases and test the efficacy and safety of new drugs, therapies or treatments.
- Types of Xenografts: There are several types of xenograft animal models, including subcutaneous xenografts, orthotopic xenografts, and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs).
- Animal selection: The host animal must be immunocompromised to prevent rejection of the transplanted tissue. Common immunocompromised strains used in xenograft models include nude mice, SCID mice, and NSG mice.
- Tissue preparation: The tissue or cells being transplanted into the animal must be carefully prepared and optimized to ensure engraftment and growth.
- Monitoring and data collection: After transplantation, the growth and behavior of the xenograft is monitored and data is collected to analyze tumor growth rate, metastasis, response to treatments, and other parameters of interest.
- Limitations: One of the main limitations of xenograft animal models is the potential for the animal microenvironment to differ from that of the human microenvironment, which can affect the behavior and response of the transplanted tissue.
Overall, xenograft animal models are a useful tool for studying human diseases and testing new treatments in a controlled and reproducible environment. However, it’s important to consider the limitations and potential differences between animal and human physiology when interpreting the results.