New model created for comparing mouse and human test results

Researchers from the UK and Singapore have found a new way of translating experimental results from mice into insights relevant to humans.

A team from Newcastle University and Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research have found a way of aligning dendritic cell subsets between mice and humans.

They isolated dendritic cells from human blood and skin and those from mouse blood, lungs and livers, then used gene expression analysis to identify and match gene signatures for each subset across both species.

It represents the first time that medical science has produced an accurate model to compare these cells between mice and humans.

Matthew Collin, professor of haematology from Newcastle University, said: "This is in effect a Rosetta stone that deciphers the language of mouse into human. It can put into context the findings from the extensive literature using mouse models to human settings."

This comes from the same study that also uncovered a human tissue dendritic cell with cross-presenting function, which could greatly aid the process of vaccine design in future.