Current Protocols: Alopecia Areata Mouse Models for Drug Efficacy and Mechanism Studies

The document details the use of the C3H/HeJ mouse model for studying alopecia areata (AA), focusing on two main protocols: full-thickness skin grafts and adoptive transfer of cultured lymphoid cells. These methods induce AA in mice, allowing for controlled studies of disease mechanisms and drug efficacy. The document emphasizes the importance of genetic consistency, environmental control, and the ability to generate large cohorts. It also highlights the challenges in maintaining AA-affected mouse colonies and the critical role these models play in advancing AA research, as evidenced by their contribution to the approval of the first drug for human AA.