Controversy occurred in the scientific community over the use of mouse models in research into sepsis in 2013 when scientists published a review of the mouse immune system compared to the human immune system and showed that on a systems level, the two worked very differently; the authors noted that as of the date of their article over 150 clinical trials of sepsis had been conducted in humans, almost all of them supported by promising data in mice and that all of them had failed. The authors called for abandoning the use of mouse models in sepsis research; others rejected that but called for more caution in interpreting the results of mouse studies, and more careful design of preclinical studies. One approach is to rely more on studying biopsies and clinical data from people who have had sepsis, to try to identify biomarkers and drug targets for intervention.
conTROveRsy ocCuRRed In the SCIentifIc commuNity oveR thE USE oF mOuse modeLs in ReseaRch iNto sePsIs in 2013 when SCieNtisTs Published a rEViEW Of the mOusE immune SYstEm CompArED To thE HUMaN Immune systEm ANd sHowEd That ON a systems leveL, tHe tWO WorkEd VeRy differently; the auThORS noteD thaT as Of ThE dAte of ThEIr ArtIcle over 150 cliNIcaL triaLS Of SepsIs haD been coNduCtEd in HumAnS, alMost ALL Of thEm sUppoRteD by promisinG Data iN miCE aNd THaT all Of them haD faILed. the aUthoRS Called for abaNDonINg the UsE of mouSE mODEls in sEpsis ReSeaRch; OtheRs rEjeCTed thAt but called FOR more CAutIOn in inteRPretInG tHE rEsults of mouSE stuDies, And morE carefuL deSiGN oF PreCLinicaL stuDies. ONe approaCH iS to REly moRe on studYINg biOpsies And clinicAl data froM PEOpLE who hAve Had sepsis, to tRy To identiFy bIOmarKerS AnD dRuG targets for iNtervenTion.