Of human, not mice:
Species-specific immunological differences
The components of the immune system
The immune system is a network of biological processes that protect against disease. The white blood cell compartment is an essential facet of this immune system, protecting against pathogens and other damaging stimuli with the potential to cause disease. These white blood cells include both myeloid cells (neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, and monocytes) as well as lymphocytes (T cells, B cells, and NK cells).
Blood Cell Lineages
Understanding Immune System Differences in Immunotherapy Development
The immune system is our body's defense network against disease. While mice are widely used in medical research, their immune system differs significantly from humans. These differences affect how well treatments tested in mice work in human patients.
Key Differences That Matter
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Cellular Composition
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Humans: Blood is predominantly myeloid cell-enriched (50-70% neutrophils)
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Mice: Blood is lymphocyte-dominant (75-90% lymphocytes) These differences affect immune responses and drug interactions
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Molecular Signaling
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Different distributions of Toll-like receptors
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Distinct NK cell receptor families
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Varied cytokine and cytokine receptor profiles These variations can lead to different therapeutic responses
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Antibody Responses
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Different FcγR expressions and distributions
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Varied antibody subclass functions These differences impact antibody-based therapeutics
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The composition of the human and mouse immune system
Why Humanized Mice Are Essential
These species-specific differences create a significant translational gap between traditional mouse models and human clinical outcomes. Humanized mice address this challenge by:
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Providing a more human-like immune environment
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Enabling more accurate prediction of therapeutic responses
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Allowing better evaluation of immunotherapy efficacy
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Reducing the risk of failed clinical trials
By incorporating human immune components, humanized mouse models serve as a crucial bridge between traditional preclinical research and human clinical applications, potentially improving the success rate of immunotherapy development.