Causes of failure in acute respiratory distress syndrome modeling and treatment in animal research and new approaches

Abstract

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a major cause of morbidity, death and cost in intensive care units. Despite intensive research, pharmacotherapy has not passed the experimental stage and mortality rates are still high. Animal models provide a bridge between patients and the laboratory bench. Different animal models have been developed in order to mimic human ARDS, but they have limitations. The purpose of this review was to summarize the properties of the most commonly used experimental animal models mimicking the causes and pathology of human ARDS, the limitations of ARDS models, treatment failure and new therapeutic approaches.

Keywords: Acute respiratory distress syndrome, Lung injury, Animal models, Model limitations

Core tip: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a syndrome with multiple risk factors that trigger the acute onset of respiratory insufficiency. ARDS is still one of the most fatal diseases with a high mortality rate in intensive care units. Mortality rates remain unchanged, pharmacotherapies have a very limited role in the management of ARDS and additional treatments are sorely needed. Animal models provide a bridge between patients and the laboratory bench, but these models have certain limitations and to date, no single animal model reproduces all the characteristics of human ARDS. Despite these limitations, the complex pathogenesis of ARDS makes animal models necessary.