Novel Inflammation to vivo model

Abstract

The present invention relates to a non-human animal deficient in the N-terminal domain of the IL-33 gene. Also provided herein is the use of said non-human animal as an in vivo model of inflammatory diseases, especially with regard to screening methods for anti-inflammatory compounds, and methods for evaluating and optimising the pharmacological properties of a given anti-inflammatory compound.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-human animal with a N-terminal deletion of the IL-33 gene. 
     
     
         2 . The non-human animal of  claim 1 , wherein the full DNA binding domain at the N-terminus of the IL-33 gene is deleted. 
     
     
         3 . The non-human animal of  claim 1 , wherein the non-human animal is a mammal. 
     
     
         4 . The non-human animal of  claim 3 , wherein the non-human animal is a rodent. 
     
     
         5 . The non-human animal of  claim 4 , wherein the non-human animal is a mouse and wherein the N-terminal deletion of the IL-33 gene comprises a deletion of amino acids 1-67 of the expression product of the IL-33 gene. 
     
     
         6 . A descendant of the non-human animal of  claim 1 , obtained by breeding with animals of the same or another genotype. 
     
     
         7 . A cell line or primary cell culture derived from the non-human animal of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         8 . A tissue or an organ explant or culture thereof derived from the non-human animal of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . The method of using the non-human animal of  claim 1  as a model of inflammatory diseases. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  for screening anti-inflammatory compounds. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  for evaluating the pharmacological effects of an anti-inflammatory compound. 
     
     
         12 . A method for screening for anti-inflammatory compounds, comprising administering a candidate compound to the non-human animal of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . A method for evaluating the pharmacological effects of an anti-inflammatory compound, comprising administering a said anti-inflammatory compound to the non-human animal of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . The non-human animal, the uses and methods essentially as herein described.