Genetic animal models with diffuse skin fibrosis have been encountered, including tight skin mutant mouse (TSK) 1 and 2.
Trauma-induced scarring and chemically-induced fibrosis can serve as models for fibrotic diseases.
Keloids, the paradigm of fibrotic skin diseases, are uniquely human, and there are no naturally occurring animal models.
Implantation of biodegradable 3-D scaffolds with human cells into mice has been developed as an in vivo model of keloids.
Availability of animal models for fibrotic diseases allows testing of novel anti-fibrotic pharmacologic agents