Experimental models of Behçet's disease

Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology. Its prevalence has a unique geographic distribution from the Far East to the Mediterranean basin. In addition, the majority of patients carry the class I HLA-B51 gene as a genetic marker. Therefore, the proposed etiological factors might be environmental, infectious, genetic, autoimmune and a combination thereof. A crucial review of the current experimental animal models for BD and their relevance to the human disease are presented.

Section editor:Daniel Altmann – Human Disease Immunogenetics Group, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK