Innovations, challenges, and minimal information for standardization of humanized mice

• Main Authors: Renata Stripecke, Christian Münz, Jan Jacob Schuringa, Karl‐Dimiter Bissig, Brian Soper, Terrence Meeham, Li‐Chin Yao, James P Di Santo, Michael Brehm, Estefania Rodriguez, Anja Kathrin Wege, Dominique Bonnet, Silvia Guionaud, Kristina E Howard, Scott Kitchen, Florian Klein, Kourosh Saeb‐Parsy, Johannes Sam, Amar Deep Sharma, Andreas Trumpp, Livio Trusolino, Carol Bult, Leonard Shultz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2020-07-01
• Series: EMBO Molecular Medicine
• Subjects: humanized mice; infections; PDX; immuno‐oncology; regenerative medicine
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.201708662

Abstract Mice xenotransplanted with human cells and/or expressing human gene products (also known as “humanized mice”) recapitulate the human evolutionary specialization and diversity of genotypic and phenotypic traits. These models can provide a relevant in vivo context for understanding of human‐specific physiology and pathologies. Humanized mice have advanced toward mainstream preclinical models and are now at the forefront of biomedical research. Here, we considered innovations and challenges regarding the reconstitution of human immunity and human tissues, modeling of human infections and cancer, and the use of humanized mice for testing drugs or regenerative therapy products. As the number of publications exploring different facets of humanized mouse models has steadily increased in past years, it is becoming evident that standardized reporting is needed in the field. Therefore, an international community‐driven resource called “Minimal Information for Standardization of Humanized Mice” (MISHUM) has been created for the purpose of enhancing rigor and reproducibility of studies in the field. Within MISHUM, we propose comprehensive guidelines for reporting critical information generated using humanized mice.