Genetic influences animal studies

Animal models of disease, whether naturally occurring or artificially induced, provide valuable insights into human disease and allow rigidly controlled studies that are not possible in humans. Probably the most intensively studied model of an immune complex disease is the spontaneous lupuslike disease that occurs in certain inbred strains of mice, especially the (NZB x NZW) F, hybrid. Its study has provided insights with respect to genetic predisposition (H25), the role of endogenous retroviruses (D8), the influence of sex hormones (R9), the identification of T suppressor cell abnormalities (T3), and the propensity to form certain autoantibodies, especially to double-stranded DNA (S36) and to the RNA-protein complex, Sm (E2). Though animal studies are not the subject of this review, we emphasize that the entire concept and framework by which we view immune complex disease in humans are based on initial observations in animals. 

The choice of strains is highly influenced by the availability of historical controls (data from parameters in control animals). Although some authorities do not rely on comparisons of controls from other studies, the investigator should try to use a strain for which a profound basis for comparisons with results from other studies is available. In case of the availability of data from historical controls , the investigator can identify trends due to genetic shifts and use this information for the interpretation of the actual study. 

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