TABLE 1.

Mouse Host Strains and Types of Humanized Mice for PSC Immunogenicity Studies

The four types of humanized mice that we recommend for PSC studies are: PBL-hu. (Also referred to as Hu-PBL-SCID, human-PBL-SCID, hu-PBL, SCID-hu-PBL, PBL-SCID). Briefly, these mice are humanized via direction of mature human peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs). HSC-hu. (Also referred to as SRC-hu, Hu-SRC-SCID, hu-CD34, HSC mice). Here, humanization is achieved by injection of purified human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, which engraft and develop into various immune cell subsets within the animal. BLT type. These mice build upon the HSC-hu mice, and include the surgical implantation of a human fetal thymus fragment under the kidney capsule of the mouse host, allowing for more relevant T cell development and function vs the HSC-hu. NeoThy. This model, developed by our team, builds upon the BLT type model, incorporating more developmentally mature neonatal human tissues for humanization (cord blood and thymus) instead of using human fetal tissue.

A Note on In-House vs Outsourcing of Humanized Mouse Model Creation

Depending on one’s institution and budget, whenever possible, we recommend that researchers utilize humanized mouse core facilities or commercial vendors for obtaining humanized mice. This allows for the greatest choice in humanization tissue and ensures greater consistency in model production. The humanized mouse core or company should have a demonstrated record of publications using the models of interest. If outsourcing is not an option, we highly recommend that scientists embarking humanization experiments be trained in-person by experienced personnel (if possible), consult the current literature, and contact experienced researchers who have successfully published research using these models.