Can Animal Skin Diseases or Current Transgenic Mice Serve as a Model for Hidradenitis Suppurativa?

The pathogenesis of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is still enigmatic, and a valid animal model for HS is currently not available. The recent discovery of γ-secretase mutations in a subpopulation of patients with HS suggested γ-secretase transgenic mice as a model for HS pathogenesis. However, the discrepancies between human HS and these mice are daunting. We critically review cases of animal HS and transgenic γ-secretase mouse models for HS and discuss the criteria which should be met for a representative pathogenic model.