Intest Res.  2008 Jun;6(1):8-18.

Animal Models of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

• Jang BI

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology that includes two main disease entities-ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Although the pathogenesis of IBD remains unclear, it is widely accepted that genetic, environmental and immunological factors are involved. Animal models of IBD are indispensable for the understanding of the pathogenesis and novel therapeutic applications for IBD. IBD animal models can be divided into several different categories, including models of spontaneous colitis (cotton-top tamarin colitis); inducible forms of colitis (using acetic acid, dextran sulfate sodium and indomethacin); an adoptive transfer model (CD45RB(high) transfer model); genetically engineered models (with IL-10 knockout or TCR-alpha chain knockout mice). However, there is no 'perfect' model for human disease. Investigators must make judicious choices when selecting a model for a particular study. In this review, an overview of the different IBD animal models is provided and the contribution of the models to the current understanding of disease mechanisms is discussed, with the ultimate goal to develop future therapeutic trials.

Keyword

Disease Models, Animal; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

MeSH Terms

Acetic Acid
Adoptive Transfer
Animals
Colitis
Crohn Disease
Dextran Sulfate
Disease Models, Animal
Humans
Immunologic Factors
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Interleukin-10
Models, Animal
Research Personnel
Acetic Acid
Dextran Sulfate
Immunologic Factors
Interleukin-10