Humanized Mouse Models for Type 1 Diabetes.

Abstract

T cell-mediated autoimmune type 1 diabetes (T1D) is under complex polygenic control in both humans and the NOD mouse model. However, in both species, particular major histocompatibility complex (MHC; designated HLA in humans) haplotypes provide the primary T1D risk factor. Both MHC/HLA class I and II variants interactively contribute to T1D by respectively driving autoreactive CD8 and CD4 T cell responses that cooperatively destroy insulin-producing pancreatic β cells. While NOD mice have provided important insights to the pathogenic basis of T1D, the model has so far provided only a limited means to identify possible clinically translatable disease intervention approaches. This highlights a need to humanize NOD mice in ways that their pathogenic basis of T1D development becomes more similar to that characterizing the disease course in patients. In this review, we discuss the use of CRISPR/Cas9-generated murine-MHC-deficient NOD mice as a platform for introduction of patient-relevant HLA and T cell receptor molecules. These mice provide ever-improving models for development of clinically applicable interventions for T1D and other autoimmune diseases. © 2025 The Author(s) Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.