Table 3

Rag2-/-γc-/- Mouse-based Human Chimeric Model


Dr. Akkina
Drs. Speck and Luban
Dr. Su

Characteristics of Humanized Rodent Models



Strain
Balb/c-Rag2-/-γ c-/-
Balb/c-Rag2-/-γ c-/-
Balb/c-Rag2-/-γ c-/-
# mice/donor
40/donor
CD34+ cell isolation yields 1–2 × 106 cells/donor sufficient for 5–10 mice (1 litter)
20–50/donor
Source of human cells
Fetal liver
Cord blood
Fetal liver
Method of isolation
Magnetic bead enrichment for CD34+ cells
Magnetic bead enrichment for CD34+ cells
CD34+ MACS kit
Pre-transplant treatment-mice
Irradiation 350 rads; intrahepatic injection into newborns
Irradiation 200 rads given twice 4 h apart; intrahepatic injection into newborns
Irradiation 400 rad; intrahepatic injection into newborns
Pre-transplant treatment-cells
SCF, IL-3, IL-6
None
None or retroviral transduction
Time frame from construction to experimental use
12 weeks
12–16 weeks
>12 weeks
Location of human hematopoiesis
Bone marrow
Not investigated
BM, Spleen, LN
Location of human Thymopoiesis
Mouse thymus
Not investigated
Mouse thymus
Reproducibility of engraftment (% mice engrafted)
>95%
More than 90% of mice show human cells in periphery; about 50% of mice have levels >10% huCD45+ cells
>95% with >20% human CD45+ cells in blood
Identity of specific human leukocytes present
T and B cells, DCs, monocytes/macrophages and some granulocytes
B and T cells, monocytes, DCs
All human leukocytes
Populated tissues
Bone marrow, lymph nodes, thymus, spleen, liver, intestines, lungs
Thymus, spleen, blood, MLN, BM, liver; to some extent: gut
BM/thymus/spleen/LN (no significant Peyer's patches found)
Characteristics of HIV Infection of Humanized Rodent Models



HIV-specific immune response
Not detected
Some minor B cell response (1/25 animals tested); no T cell response detected
Low gag-specific responses/no IgG detected
Tropism/clade of infecting HIV
R5, X4, dual-tropic
YU-2 and NL4-3
R5-X4-dual or R5/clade B
Target cells infected
CD4 T cells
CD3+ cells and only occasionally non T cells such as CD68+ macrophages
CD4 T and DC
Level of plasma HIV viremia
~107 copies RNA/ml
Up to 2 × 106 copies/ml
105-106 copies/ml
Duration of the infection
at least 14 months
Up to 190 days; longest period followed
>22 weeks
Replication kinetics
Peak viremia at about 6 weeks followed by maintenance of viremia
HIV RNA levels peak 2–6 wpi, thereafter viremia mostly stabilizes at lower levels.
HIV RNA levels peaks at 2–3 (dual tropic) or 4–6 wpi (R5-tropic)
In vivo generation of ART resistance
Not done
Not tested
Not known
Treatment of HIV Infection Using Humanized Rodent Models



ART to block transmission
Not done
Not done
Not done
Microbicide to block transmission
Not done
Not done
Not done
ART to control replication
Not done
Not done
Yes.
Emergence of resistance to ART
Not done
Not done
Not done
Elimination of HIV reservoirs
Not done
Not done
Not done
HSC gene therapy to protect progeny cells
yes
Not done
Not done
CD4 T cell gene therapy to protect cells
Not done
Not done
Not done
Immune-based Therapy of HIV Infection Using Humanized Rodent Models

Not done

Preventive HIV vaccines
Not done
Not done
Not done
Treatment HIV vaccines
Not done
Not done
Not done
Adoptive Anti-HIV Ig therapy
Not done
Not done
Not done
Adoptive Anti-HIV CTL therapy
Not done
Not done
Not done
Immunoadjuvent therapy
Not done
Not done
Not done
Investigation of HIV Pathogenesis



Contribution of HIV genes to pathogenesis
yes
Not done
Env/Nef
HIV-mediated CD4-depletion-lymphoid
yes
yes
Yes
HIV-mediated CD4-depletion-mucosal
Not done
Not done
mesenteric LN, yes
Effects of co-factors on replication
Not done
Not done
Not done
Effects of co-infection e.g. mTb on replication
Not done
Not done
Not done
End organ dysfunction
Not done
Not done
Not done

Goldstein AIDS Research and Therapy 2008 5:3   doi:10.1186/1742-6405-5-3