Animal models for arthritis

Animal models for rheumatic diseases complement human investigations to study in detail pathogenic hypotheses and therapeutic strategies. An overview of animal studies in the last years shows examples for ideas taken from bench to bedside and from bedside to bench. Depending on the disease studied, progress includes a refinement of physiological and pathogenic thinking and a better definition of promising cellular and molecular therapeutic targets.

Key words: animal models, arthritis, future therapeutic targets, pathogenesis