Animal Models Of T Cell Mediated Skin Diseases

Pharmaceutical companies are spending increasing amounts of money on drug discovery and development. Nevertheless, attrition rates in clinical development are still very high, and up to 90% of new compounds fail in clinical phase I - III trials, which is partially due to lack of clinical efficacy. This indicates a strong need for highly predictive in vitro and in vivo models. The "50th International Workshop of the Ernst Schering Research Foundation" focussed on "Animal Models of T Cell-Mediated Skin Diseases". Such animal models should have impact not only on inflammatory dermatoses but also on other inflammatory disorders due to their model character. The current volume summarises recent advances in animal research that are important for anti-inflammatory drug discovery.

Progress in understanding skin diseases has been aided enormously by the use of tissues derived from animals, by studying normal processes in animals, and by the development of animal models. The cellular activities in animals and humans are remarkably similar and the actual pathological process of an inflammatory skin disease can only be accurately observed and analyzed in a living animal model, and not in any in vitro model system. These factors have led to the regular use of animal tissues and models to allow the disease processes to be studied at a much greater depth. Animal Models of Human Inflammatory Skin Diseases features the principles and practices of how to go about studying inflammatory skin diseases using live animal models. On the principle side, the book describes the comparative structure and function of the skin, and the comparative immunology system in animal species commonly used as models. From the practical perspective, it presents a general discussion on methods of experimental animal modeling and contains specific expert experience on individual models. The authors include a detailed method of disease induction for each model, present chapters on comparative histology and immunology, and discuss potential targets of disease intervention. Written by biomedical investigators with first-hand experience in their chosen fields, this book is a valuable guide and reference for investigators in the biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences. It provides an instantaneous comparison between the skin structure and immunology of humans and animals, aiding in the interpretation and application of pathologic and immunologic findings.

Because autoimmune disorders can wreak havoc in both humans and animals, these disorders are now the objects of intense and focused research. This book details specific animal models for a variety of autoimmune disorders. The contributors are recognized authorities who deal with the panoply of experimentally induced autoimmune disorders, including encephalomyelitis, allergic neuritis, uveoretinitis, myocarditis, and hepatitis. Also included are discussions of spontaneously appearing diseases such as autoimmune thyroiditis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Many other disorders are also covered in this comprehensive guide. Certain to be an aid in the planning of individual experiments and broader research programs, this book will be a valuable addition to the library of all practicing immunologists interested in immune system function and dysfunction.

Recent progress in the fields of pharmacology and immunology has provided us with new possibilities for treating dermatological diseases. This book reviews the most important immunosuppressive and immunostimulatory drugs and gives helpful, practical information on the treatment of various dermatoses, including autoimmundiseases, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, vasculitis, contact dermatitis, pyoderma gangrenosum, infectious diseases, and neoplasms of the skin - in particular, malignant melanoma.

This book shows how the structural similarity of MIRRs determines the general principles underlying MIRR-mediated transmembrane signaling mechanisms. In so doing, it provides the basis for existing and future therapeutic strategies targeting MIRRs.

The classic immunodeficient mutants nude, scid and rnu have an important function in experimental cancer research: they allow unique methods of investigation and provide data of clinical relevance. This volume presents the state of the art of research work based on the use of these immunodeficient animal models. One section is dedicated to the biological aspects and immunological properties of immunodeficient mutants. Another part includes articles on xenogenous transplantation of human tumors, focusing on the establishment of transplantable lines, growth characteristics and tumor markers. Special attention is given to new approaches in the fields of chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy. Various contributors consider in vitro methods as alternative models. In addition to current data, this publication contains useful technical and methodological information and is therefore valuable not only for specialists but also for scientists entering the field of experimental cancer research.

Are environmental pollutants threatening the human immune system? Researchers are rapidly approaching definitive answers to this question, with the aid of biologic markersâ€"sophisticated assessment tools that could revolutionize detection and prevention of certain diseases. This volume, third in a series on biologic markers, focuses on the human immune system and its response to environmental toxicants. The authoring committee provides direction for continuing development of biologic markers, with strategies for applying markers to immunotoxicology in humans and recommended outlines for clinical and field studies. This comprehensive, up-to-date volume will be invaluable to specialists in toxicology and immunology and to biologists and investigators involved in the development of biologic markers.