Severe Combined ImmunoDeficient (SCID) mice in biomedical research (In Greek)

Author: Tsingotjidou, A.S.

Source: Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society, Volume 60, Number 3, July-September 2009 , pp. 266-273(8)

Publisher: Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society

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Abstract:

Mice have been used in cancer research since the last decade of the 19th century. In 1921 inbred strains, that were predisposed to developing tumors, were bred and became available to cancer researchers. The nude mouse, a hairless mutant discovered in 1962, is immunodeficient, and thus does not reject tumor transplantations from other species. It lacks a thymus, which is essential for the production of T-cells, lymphocytes that are essential for cellular immunity. In 1983 mice with severe combined immune deficiency (Prkdc^scid, commonly referred to as scid) were discovered. Scid mice are even more immunodeficient than nude mice. Tumors from other species are transplanted into scid mice easier. In 1988 two groups of researchers almost simultaneously succeeded in transplanting elements of the human immune system into scid mice. They had used totally different approaches in creating their human-mouse chimeras. This chimera, named the hu-PBL- scid, was also able to produce human tetanus antibodies when injected with tetanus toxin, further demonstrating that its immune system was functioning as though it was naturally human. Severe Combined ImmunoDeficient (scid) mice are homozygous for the mutant autosomal recessive gene “scid“, which is located at the centromeric end of chromosome 16. Since these mice lack mature, functional lymphocytes, they are highly susceptible to lethal opportunistic infections. For this reason, they should be maintained in a pathogen free environment. Some scid mice, by an unexplained mechanism, eventually develop minute levels of B cells and a rudimentary antibody response and are commonly referred to as “leaky“. Different genetic manipulations are used to overcome this obstacle. The transfer of the scid mutation onto the Non-Obese Diabetic (NOD), BEIGE (beige mutation results in cytotoxic T cell and macrophage defects as well as selective impairment of NK cell functions) and other strains has led to better engraftment of transferred human cells. Lately, mice with targeted mutations have been engineered, including animals with disruption of the recombination activating gene-1 (Rag-1) or (Rag-2), β2 microglobulin (B2m) and perforin (PRF1) genes. Any possible combination of the above mentioned mutants has led to the development of humanized mouse models providing more straightforward assay systems for the study of the human hematolymphoid system. Our personal experience on the use of scid mice in biomedical research relates to the development of animal models to investigate cancer metastasis in human bone.

Keywords: IMMUNODEFICIENT MICE; ANIMAL MODELS; HUMAN BONE IMPLANTATION

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2009-07-01

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J Hellenic Vet Med Soc is covered by THOMSON REUTERS Science Citation Index Expanded & Journal Citation Reports/science edition
J Hellenic Vet Med Soc is a Quarterly Journal and it is the only scientific veterinary journal in Greece which is published in English and Greek language. It publishes exclusively original scientific papers, research, original and review articles, short communication, retrospective study of case reports as well as special articles, covering all fields of the veterinary science. Its scope is to disseminate the updated veterinary knowledge among its members and to encourage veterinarians to write and publish scientific papers. Submitted articles are always peer reviewed by academic scientists and experienced practitioners, who hold postgraduate titles (MSc, MPhil, PhD, Diplomates etc) and are specialists in their fields.
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Severe Combined ImmunoDeficient (SCID) mice in biomedical research (In Greek)

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