🧬 Is Humanization Humane? Breakthroughs in Humanized Mouse Models 🧬
At the Texas University Science Center, researchers have developed mice with fully functional human immune systems. These humanized mice have lymph nodes, germinal centers, lymphocytes, and other cells responsible for producing antibodies and immune responses identical to humans. Even their gut microbiome is human-derived. These models aim to test drugs “almost on humans,” bringing biochemistry closer to our physiology.
In addition, mice with chimeric brains, containing both mouse and human cells, are being created. Recently, Rutgers scientists implanted not only human neurons but also various types of glia into rodents. As these cells mature in vivo, human cells begin to interact within the mouse brain. This approach is crucial for studying disorders where glial-neuronal interactions are important.
The research extends to primates. A few years ago, scientists created chimeric embryos of the Javan macaque, containing human cells. The next step is inevitable: a humanized primate with a chimeric brain. Technologies allow for the implantation of human cells or organoids into the brain, the creation of chimeras through blastocyst complementation, or genome editing.
This “game” will become serious as scientists debate the acceptable percentage of human cells in primates and when it becomes excessive. No one knows for sure—we are entering a new era. Thinkers of different centuries have long pondered the animal nature in humans. Now they must learn to think in reverse.
@science
At the Texas University Science Center, researchers have developed mice with fully functional human immune systems. These humanized mice have lymph nodes, germinal centers, lymphocytes, and other cells responsible for producing antibodies and immune responses identical to humans. Even their gut microbiome is human-derived. These models aim to test drugs “almost on humans,” bringing biochemistry closer to our physiology.
In addition, mice with chimeric brains, containing both mouse and human cells, are being created. Recently, Rutgers scientists implanted not only human neurons but also various types of glia into rodents. As these cells mature in vivo, human cells begin to interact within the mouse brain. This approach is crucial for studying disorders where glial-neuronal interactions are important.
The research extends to primates. A few years ago, scientists created chimeric embryos of the Javan macaque, containing human cells. The next step is inevitable: a humanized primate with a chimeric brain. Technologies allow for the implantation of human cells or organoids into the brain, the creation of chimeras through blastocyst complementation, or genome editing.
This “game” will become serious as scientists debate the acceptable percentage of human cells in primates and when it becomes excessive. No one knows for sure—we are entering a new era. Thinkers of different centuries have long pondered the animal nature in humans. Now they must learn to think in reverse.
@science