FIG. 7.
Survival and histopathology of CD4/HIV-Nefallele Tg mice. (A) Nef-expressing strains showing shorter survival and/or pathological lesions. (Upper panel) Cumulative incidence of mortality. Mice from the indicated Tg lines were observed for a period of up to 12 months. The cumulative incidence of mortality of the different Tg founder lines from each indicated Tg mouse strain, as well as that of their non-Tg littermates, was plotted as the percentage of surviving mice. NefNL4-3(WT) represents the CD4C/HIV-NefNL4-3(WT) (F27367) Tg mice used as positive controls. The number of animals observed (n) in each indicated Tg line is shown. The number of non-Tg mice represents the sum of control mice for all founders in these lines. (Lower panel) Kidney histology of a representative Tg mouse from corresponding Tg lines. All these Tg mice exhibit the typical pathology previously observed for CD4C/HIV-NefNL4-3(WT) Tg mice. Note the tubular dilatation and atrophy, with some cystic changes, tubulointerstitial nephritis as well as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in all Tg kidneys. (B) No or minimal lung or kidney organ disease in CD4C/HIV-NefYU10x, CD4C/HIV-NefAD-93, and CD4C/HIV-NefJR-CSF Tg mice. (Upper panel) Absence or very low mortality. Mice were observed for up to 12 months. The data are presented as in the upper panel of panel A. (Lower panel) Light microscopic analysis of kidneys from Tg mice. The histological appearance of the kidney from these Tg animals was indistinguishable (NefYU10x and NefAD-93) or showed only minimal lesions (NefJR-CSF) relative to that of non-Tg mice. (C) Semiquantitative assessment of the kidney disease in Tg mice. A score 1 to 4 was assigned to each mouse, and the average score for each group is shown.