Of mice and men: how animal models advance our understanding of T-cell function in RA

Autoreactive T cells have an important role in the pathogenesis of both rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and mouse models of the diseaseIn addition to similarities, some differences exist in the regulation of the development and plasticity of type 1 and type 17 T-helper cell and regulatory T-cell subsets in humans and miceThe contribution of joint-homing T cells to local inflammation in arthritis is not clear in either speciesUnlike in mouse arthritis, most T-cell-targeting therapeutic strategies failed in RA; only a few of them (such as abatacept) succeededAnti-cytokine and anti-B-cell therapies might indirectly suppress pathogenic T cells in human and mouse arthritis