Humanized mice

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The term "humanized mouse" refers to a mouse that has been transplanted with human tissues and cells, which function similarly to their counterparts in the human body. This allows for the analysis of physiological properties and functions of human tissues in a mouse model, facilitating the study of human diseases' pathophysiology and treatment with good reproducibility. Consequently, humanized mice are emerging as valuable tools in both basic and clinical research. The development of suitable immunodeficient mice has been crucial for creating humanized mice, a process that has taken years of effort from various laboratories. The journey began with the report on nude mice by Isaacson and Cattanach in 1962. Subsequent studies revealed that nude mice lack a thymus gland, indicating they have no transplantation immunity against human hematopoietic stem cells. The Nude Mouse Workshops, held from 1972 to 1997, explored the potential for creating humanized mice using nude mice. While some human cancers could be engrafted in these mice, normal human tissue engraftment proved to be nearly impossible, highlighting the challenges that remain in this area of research.