Advantages Across Mice Strains in Respiratory Research
Mice strain can have an important impact on research, as certain strains are better suited to some applications than others. Three main strains of mice (A/J1, BALB/c2, C57B/63) are typically studied in respiratory research, using the SCIREQ flexiVent as a platform to assess respiratory mechanics across applications.
A/J mice are most commonly used for cancer and carcinogen testing because of their high susceptibility to carcinogen-induced tumours. In a respiratory context, these mice have airways that are spontaneously hyperresponsive to bronchoconstricting agents and develop cigarette smoke-induced emphysema more quickly than other strains, particularly the AKR/J mice.
- Hyperresponsive: McGovern TK et al. Evaluation of respiratory system mechanics in mice using the forced oscillation technique. J Vis Exp. 2013 May 15;(75):e50172.
- Emphysema: Guerassimov A, et al. The development of emphysema in cigarette smoke-exposed mice is strain dependent. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 170: 974-980, 2004.
BALB/c mice are frequently used for a variety of immunological studies, in part because they demonstrate TH2-biased immune responses. These mice are particularly well known for producing monoclonal antibodies.
- TH2 immune response: You D et al. IL-4Rα on CD4+ T cells plays a pathogenic role in respiratory syncytial virus reinfection in mice infected initially as neonates. J Leukoc Biol. 2013 Jun;93(6):933-42.
- Monoclonal antibodies: Scheuplein F et al. Mouse Invariant Monoclonal Antibody NKT14: A Novel Tool to Manipulate iNKT Cell Function In Vivo. PLoS One. 2015 Oct 16;10(10):e0140729.
C57BL/6 mice are the most commonly used strain due to their fully known genome and transgenic possibilities. These mice are used as a general purpose and background strain, making them widely published and easy to compare results across studies.
- Knockout Model: Craig Cohen, J. et al. The “Goldilocks Effect” in Cystic Fibrosis: identification of a lung phenotype in the cftr knockout and heterozygous mouse. BMC Genet 5, 21 (2004)
- Fundamental mechanics: Szabari, M. V. et al. Relation between Respiratory Mechanics, Inflammation, and Survival in Experimental Mechanical Ventilation. American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, 60(2), pp. 179–188. 2019.
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