Journal of Clinical Medicine Review Models Contribution to the Understanding of Sarcoidosis Pathogenesis: “Are There Good Models of Sarcoidosis?” Valérie Besnard 1,* and Florence Jeny 1,2 1 UMR 1272, Hypoxie & Poumon, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, 1 rue de Chablis, 93017 Bobigny, France; fl
[email protected] 2 AP-HP, Hôpital Avicenne, Service de Pneumologie, 93017 Bobigny, France * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +33-148-388-877; Fax: +33-148-388-924 Received: 8 July 2020; Accepted: 27 July 2020; Published: 31 July 2020 Abstract: Sarcoidosis is a systemic, granulomatous, and noninfectious disease of unknown etiology. The clinical heterogeneity of the disease (targeted tissue(s), course of the disease, and therapy response) supports the idea that a multiplicity of trigger antigens may be involved. The pathogenesis of sarcoidosis is not yet completely understood, although in recent years, considerable efforts were put to develop novel experimental research models of sarcoidosis. In particular, sarcoidosis patient cells were used within in vitro 3D models to study their characteristics compared to control patients. Likewise, a series of transgenic mouse models were developed to highlight the role of particular signaling pathways in granuloma formation and persistence. The purpose of this review is to put in perspective the contributions of the most recent models in the understanding of sarcoidosis. Keywords: sarcoidosis; models; macrophage; lung; granuloma 1. Introduction Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease of unknown etiology that is characterized by the formation of immune granulomas in different organs, mainly the lungs, the lymphatic system, the skin, the eye, and the heart [1]. The diagnosis consists of the association of compatible clinical, biological, and radiological signs, the histological demonstration of a granuloma characteristic of sarcoidosis, and the elimination of other causes of granulomatosis [2].