The analysis of the functions of human B and T cells in humanized NOD/shi-scid/γcnull (NOG) mice (hu-HSC NOG mice)

Y Watanabe, T Takahashi, A Okajima… - International …, 2009 - academic.oup.com
Y Watanabe, T Takahashi, A Okajima, M Shiokawa, N Ishii, I Katano, R Ito, M Ito…
International immunology, 2009academic.oup.com
Abstract 'Humanized mice'are anticipated to be a valuable tool for studying the human
immune system, but the reconstituted human immune cells have not yet been well
characterized. Here, we extensively investigated the differentiation and functions of human B
and T cells in a supra-immunodeficient mouse strain, NOD/shi-scid/γcnull (NOG)
reconstituted with CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells obtained from umbilical cord blood. In
these hu-HSC NOG mice, the development of human B cells was partially blocked, and a …
Abstract
‘Humanized mice’ are anticipated to be a valuable tool for studying the human immune system, but the reconstituted human immune cells have not yet been well characterized. Here, we extensively investigated the differentiation and functions of human B and T cells in a supra-immunodeficient mouse strain, NOD/shi-scid/γcnull (NOG) reconstituted with CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells obtained from umbilical cord blood. In these hu-HSC NOG mice, the development of human B cells was partially blocked, and a significant number of B-cell progenitors accumulated in the spleen. The mature CD19+IgM+IgD+ human B cells of the hu-HSC NOG mice could produce IgG in vivo and in vitro by antigenic stimulation. In contrast, although human T cells with an apparently normal phenotype developed, most of them could neither proliferate nor produce IL-2 in response to antigenic stimulation by anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies in vitro. The positive selection of human T cells in the thymus was sufficiently functional, if not complete, and mainly mediated by mouse class II, suggesting that the human T cells lost their function in the periphery. We found that multiple mechanisms were involved in the T-cell abnormalities. Collectively, our results demonstrate that further improvements are necessary before humanized mice with a functional human immune system are achieved.
Oxford University Press