CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional

Application Serial No. 61/324,030, filed on April 14, 2010, and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 61/391,444, filed on October 8, 2010, the entire disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure pertains generally to biomedical research. More specifically, the present disclosure pertains to a mouse with genetic advantages for biomedical research.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

[0003] There are hundreds of pathological mutants in mice and rats, and many of these are of interest to biomedical research. Mutant mice are typically used for specialized research and development projects. Mutant mice can be maintained with either outbred or inbred genetic backgrounds, the properties of which confer genetic advantages and disadvantages. For example, the athymic nude gene on the outbred HsdCpb:NMRI background produces a relatively robust animal, but the same mutation in mice having a BALB/cOlaHsd background produces a less robust animal.

[0004] Prkdc ^Cld is a mutation of the gene encoding the catalytic subunit of DNA activated protein kinase (Prkdc) that results in a severe combined immunodeficiency (scid) (for review, see Bosma and Carroll, 1991). It is an autosomal recessive mutation that disrupts the differentiation of B-cell and T-cell progenitor cells due to a defective variable, diversity and joining (VDJ) recombinase system necessary for generating B- and T-cell receptors. Mice with a Prkdc mutation lack Thy-1- positive dendritic epidermal cells. Unlike nude mice, Prkdc ^Cld mutant mice posses a thymus and lymph nodes.

[0005] The non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse is an animal model of Type 1 diabetes, exhibiting a susceptibility to spontaneous development of automimmune, T cell-mediated insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). The NOD strain and related strains were developed at Shionogi Research Laboratories in Aburahi, Japan, by Makino and colleagues and first reported in 1980 (Makino et al., 1980). Additionally, NOD strains are typically characterized by a functional deficit in natural killer (NK) cells, defects in myeloid

development and function as well as in the differentiation and function of antigen presenting cells (APCs), and a C5 deficiency that inhibits activation of both classical and alternative pathways of hemolytic complement (Greiner et al., 1998).

[0006] Mouse strains carrying a Prkdc ^cld mutation, while displaying a lack of B- and

T- cell function, express normal levels of NK cells, hemolytic complement and myeloid function. In addition, Prkdc ^cld mutants on various background strains produce

immunoglobulin and functional T-cells at low levels as the mice age, a phenomenon referred to as "leakiness." These innate immune properties are disadvantageous for certain research applications, especially engraftment of human tumor cell lines.

[0007] The Prkdc ^cld mutation has been transferred from the C.B-17 background onto the diabetes susceptible nonobese diabetic (NOD) background and is referred to as the NOD scid. Unlike the typical NOD mouse, development of autoimmune diabetes does not occur due to lack of T-cell function. NOD scid mice are further characterized by a NK cell functional deficit, macrophage deficiency, and a lack of detectable hemolytic complement (Greiner et al, 1998).

[0008] In addition, the "leaky" phenotype of homozygous scid mice, resulting from the incomplete blocking of VDJ recombinase activity that leads to residual B- and T-cell activity, is suppressed in this model compared to other scid mice on various genetic backgrounds. These characteristics are advantageous for studies involving long-term growth of transplanted cells. For example, human cell lines such as PC-3 and DU145, and CD-34 positive stem cells may effectively be grown long-term in NOD scid mice, but not in other scid mice that exhibit normal NK cell function, macrophages, and circulating complement that may influence tumor growth or engraftment of human stem cells. The immunologic profile of the NOD scid mouse renders it useful for biomedical research in oncology, immunology, hematology, HIV pathology, and other fields.

[0009] Despite their suitability for numerous applications, NOD scid mice exhibit some characteristics that can be disadvantageous for certain research purposes. For example, NOD scid mice have a full coat of albino hair, so their hair must be shaved prior to inoculation of cells, and subsequent visualization and imaging of tumors is more difficult than in a hairless model. Further, even after shaving a haired mouse, hair follicles remain which may auto fluoresce and interfere with imaging studies employing bio luminescent and fluorescent reporters. The hairless homozygous mutant, unlike the nude mouse, is devoid of hair follicles (Lyon et al., 1996) thereby eliminating the autofluorescence from follicles that occurs in other xenograft models. [0010] Described herein are improvements to the NOD scid mouse made by crossing

NOD scid mice with a mouse carrying a mutation in the hairless gene (Hr) and backcrossing onto the NOD scid genetic background to produce a hairless NOD scid mouse strain. The hairless NOD scid mice disclosed herein are particularly advantageous for the studies of xenograft transplantation, spontaneous tumors, cancer cell tumorigenesis, tumor angiogenesis, tumor metastatic potential, tumor suppression therapy, carcinogenesis regulation, tumor imaging, and human stem cell engraftment.

[0011] The following various embodiments are contemplated:

[0012] 1) A hairless, immunodeficient mouse on a non-obese diabetic (NOD) background having B-cell, T-cell, NK-cell, macrophage and complement deficiency.

[0013] 2) The mouse of clause 1, wherein the mouse is homozygous for a Prkdc allele.

[0014] 3) The mouse of clause 2, wherein the Prkdc allele is scid (Prkdc ^Cld ).

[0015] 4) The mouse of any of clauses 1 to 3, wherein the mouse is homozygous for an

Hr allele.

[0016] 5) The mouse of clause 4, wherein the Hr allele is hr (Hr ^hr ).

[0017] 6) The mouse of any of clauses 1 to 5, wherein the non-obese diabetic background is NOD.CB17-iWc ^sca .

[0018] 7) The mouse of any of clauses 1 to 5, wherein the non-obese diabetic background is NOD.CB17- r c ^sca /NCrHsd.

[0019] 8) The hairless mouse of any of clauses 1 to 7 further having a dendritic cell deficiency, wherein the dendritic cell deficiency is a reduction in the number of dendritic cells compared to an immunodeficient mouse of the same background that is not hairless.

[0020] 9) A method of producing a hairless, immunodeficient mouse on a non-obese diabetic (NOD) background, the method comprising:

[0021] (a) crossing a NOD scid mouse strain homozygous for a Prkdc allele with a second mouse strain homozygous for an Hr allele to produce progeny heterozygous for both the Hr allele and the Prkdc allele;

[0022] (b) intercrossing the heterozygous progeny produced from step (a) with NOD scid mice;

[0023] (c) selecting offspring of step (b) that are homozygous for the Prkdc allele and have a genotype that is more similar to NOD scid;

[0024] (d) crossing the offspring selected in step (c) with mice homozygous or heterozygous for the Hr allele. [0025] 10) The method of clause 9 wherein the Prkdc allele is scid {Prkdc ⁰¹ ).

[0026] 11) The method of any of clauses 9 to 10 wherein the Hr allele is hr (Hr ^hr ).

[0027] 12) The method of any of clauses 9 to 11, wherein the progeny produced from step (a) are genotyped using a process selected from the group consisting of:

[0028] single nucleotide polymorphism allelic discrimination, polymerase chain reaction, and single nucleotide polymorphism profiling.

[0029] 13) The method of any of clauses 9 to 12, wherein the NOD scid mouse of steps (a) and (b) is a CB17 -Prkdc ^cid mouse.

[0030] 14) The method of any of clauses 9 to 12, wherein the NOD scid mouse of steps

(a) and (b) is a NOD.CB17-Prkdcscid/NCrHsd- r c ^sca mouse.

[0031] 15) The method of any of clauses 9 to 14 wherein the second mouse strain of step (a) is an MF-l-hr mouse.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Figure 1 shows histology sections of mesenteric lymph nodes (top) and spleens

(bottom) of male and female NOD scid and Hr NOD scid mice.

[0033] Figure 2 shows dot plots of flow cytometry (FACS) results for CD49b. The numbers in the quadrants are mean percentages.

[0034] Figure 3 shows dot plots of flow cytometry (FACS) results for CD1 lc. The numbers in the quadrants are mean percentages.

[0035] Figure 4 shows dot plots of flow cytometry (FACS) results for CD3e and CD

49b. The numbers in the quadrants are mean percentages.

[0036] Figure 5 shows dot plots of flow cytometry (FACS) results for CD3e and

CD49b. The numbers in the quadrants are mean percentages.

[0037] Figure 6 shows dot plots of flow cytometry (FACS) results for CD3e and

CD8a. The numbers in the quadrants are mean percentages.

[0038] Figure 7 shows dot plots of flow cytometry (FACS) results for CD49b. The numbers in the quadrants are mean percentages.

[0039] Figure 8 shows dot plots of flow cytometry (FACS) results for CD49b. The numbers in the quadrants are mean percentages.

[0040] Figure 9 shows tumor development from human mantle cell lymphoma cell line

JEKO-1 xenotransplanted in Hr NOD scid mice.

[0041] Figure 10 shows tumor development from human mantle cell lymphoma cell line JEKO-1 xenotransplanted in athymic nude mice. [0042] Figure 11 shows tumor development from human large cell lymphoma cell line

KARPAS-299 xenotransplanted in Hr NOD scid mice without whole body irradiation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the invention to the particular forms described, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention.

[0044] The following terms as used throughout the specification are intended to have the meaning set forth below:

[0045] As used herein, the phrase "more similar to NOD scid" refers to mice within a particular generation that possess a genotype that is more like the NOD scid strain than other mice of the same generation possess. This can be quantified, for example, by single nucleotide polymorphism analysis.

[0046] Disclosed herein is the production of a hairless NOD scid mouse. Hairless

NOD scid mice are particularly advantageous for biomedical research and development experiments utilizing xenograft transplantation, spontaneous tumors, cancer cell

tumorigenesis, tumor angiogenesis, tumor metastatic potential, tumor suppression therapy, carcinogenesis regulation, tumor imaging, and human stem cell engraftment.

NOD scid Mouse

[0047] The Prkdc ^cld mutation has been transferred from the C.B-17 background onto the diabetes susceptible nonobese diabetic (NOD) background and is referred to as the NOD scid. The NOD scid mutant mouse was received by National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland in 2004 from National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. NOD scid have severe combined immunodeficiency (scid) affecting T- and B- cell development. Unlike the typical NOD mouse, development of autoimmune diabetes does not occur due to lack of T-cell function. NOD scid mice are further characterized as having a NK cell functional deficit, macrophage deficiency, and absence of circulating complement. NOD scid mice are susceptible to opportunistic pathogens and have an increased incidence of thymic lymphomas with age.

Hairless (Hr) mouse

[0048] Homozygous (hr/hr) mice have normal coat until about 10 days of age, at which time hair loss commences. Although sparse hair growth occurs at monthly intervals, the mice are essentially hairless by 5-6 weeks of age. The complete hair is lost from the follicle (Crew and Mirskaia, 1931). The vibrissae are repeatedly shed and become more abnormal with age. The hairless gene is a thyroid-hormone responsive gene and corepressor for thyroid hormone receptors, mediating thyroid hormone action in the brain and skin (Potter et al, 2001). Their toenails are frequently long and curved.

[0049] Generally, special husbandry procedures are not required to maintain hairless mice. With the exception of occasional skin abscesses, they generally show no increased susceptibility to infection. However, hairless mice do have a mild immune deficiency, possibly due to defects of T-helper cells (Reske-Kunz et al, 1979). There is a high incidence of leukemia in hr/hr compared with hr/+ mice (Heiniger et al, 1974) associated with immunological defects and impaired graft-versus-host (GVH) response (L'Anson and Gasser, 1973). An association between defective immune function and lymphomagenesis in hairless mice may be due to the reduced immune responsiveness of this mutant to syngeneic lymphoma cells, and to purified murine leukemia virus (MuLVs) (Johnson and Meier, 1981). In addition, splenic T cells from this mutant have been shown to have a depressed proliferative response to I-region alloantigens (Morrissey et al, 1980). Further, an inversion in the normal proportions of Ly-1+ and Ly-123+ T cells has been found in spleens (Reske-Kunz et al, 1979).

[0050] Histopathologically, hairless mice have hyperkeratosis of the stratified epithelium upper part of the hair canals beginning at about 14 days. Hair club formation is abnormal, with the internal root sheath coalescing around the terminal part of the hair shaft so that the lower part of the hair sheath fails to follow the ascending hair club and becomes stranded in the dermis. Cysts develop from two sources, the hyperkarotic upper part of the hair canals, and the sheaths of the abnormal follicles stranded in the dermis (Fraser, 1946; Mann, 1971). Glomerular changes in hairless mice have been described by Fukui et al, 1975. Hairless mice are fertile, but most females do not nurse their young well. The most effective breeding system uses homozygous mutant males and heterozygous females (ILAR, 1989).

[0051] The presence of NK cell, macrophage, and complement function can influence initial tumor growth and metastatic spread after implantation of tumor cells. A comparative study of tumor growth rate of various hematopoietic cancer cell lines in different animal models shows that better growth rate is achieved in models with a B cell, T cell, NK cell, macrophage, and complement deficiency, as is exhibited in the hairless NOD scid mouse model. Additionally, the hairless NOD scid mouse has an increased metastatic potential relative to other orthotopic mouse models. The hairless NOD scid mouse is a useful model for xenographic transplant and humanization studies and has genetic and phenotypic advantages compared to scid mutants on other genetic backgrounds.

[0052] In one embodiment, a hairless, immunodeficient mouse on a non-obese diabetic

(NOD) background is disclosed. The hairless immunodeficient mouse has a B-cell, T-cell, NK-cell, macrophage and complement deficiency. Further, and unexpectedly, the hairless immunodeficient mouse has a dendritic cell deficit, in that the number of dendritic cells is reduced in the hairless NOD scid mouse compared to the NOD scid mouse having hair. A reduction in dendritic cells results in a greater degree of immunodeficiency, which can be advantageous for experiments involving xenograft transplantations, spontaneous tumors, cancer cell tumorigenesis, tumor angiogenesis, tumor metastatic potential, tumor suppression therapy, carcinogenesis regulation, tumor imaging, and human stem cell engraftment.

EXAMPLES

EXAMPLE. Selective breeding to produce hairless NOD scid mice.

[0053] Mice are bred as shown is Table 1. In summary, the steps are as follows (the presence of a mutant allele is indicated by the symbol ⁺ ).

[0054] Step (1): Breed homozygous hairless (Hr ^+/+ ) with homozygous NOD scid

(Prkdc ^+/+ ) mice. Preferably the Hr mice are males, because the Hr females may exhibit poor maternal characteristics. The Fl mice produced from Step 1 are all heterozygous: Hr ^+/~ and Prkdc ^+/~ .

[0055] Step (2): Select NOD scid heterozygous males and backcross them to NOD scid Prkdc ^+/+ homozygous females. The N2 mice are a mix of genotypes. Test offspring for the presence of the Hr gene by PCR, for the presence of the Prkdc gene by single nucleotide polymorphism allelic discrimination, and NOD scid genetic background by single nucleotide polymorphism profiling.

[0056] Step (3): Select males and females with at least 80.8% NOD scid genetic background that are homozygous for Prkdc (Prkdc ^+/+ ) and heterozygous for Hr (Hr ^+/~ ) and breed them accordingly with NOD scid males or females.

[0057] Step (4): Test offspring for the presence of the Hr gene by PCR and for NOD scid genetic background by single nucleotide polymorphism profiling. Select males and females with at least 94% NOD scid genetic background that are homozygous for Prkdc (Prkdc ) and heterozygous for Hr (Hr ^" ) and breed them accordingly with NOD scid males or females.

[0058] Step (5): Test offspring for the presence of the Hr gene by PCR and for NOD scid genetic background by single nucleotide polymorphism profiling. Select males and females with at least 99% NOD scid genetic background that are homozygous for Prkdc (Prkdc ^+/+ ) and heterozygous for Hr (Hr ^+/~ ) and breed them accordingly with NOD scid males or females.

[0059] Step (6): Test offspring for the presence of the Hr gene by PCR and for NOD scid genetic background by single nucleotide polymorphism profiling. Select males and females that have essentially 100% NOD scid genetic background that are homozygous for Prkdc (Prkdc ^+/+ ) and heterozygous for Hr (Hr ^+/~ ) and breed them accordingly with NOD scid males or females.

[0060] Step (7): Breed mice obtained from step 6 to establish a colony of hairless

NOD scid. Males that are homozygous for Prkdc (Prkdc ^+/+ ) and homozygous for Hr (Hr ^+/+ ) may be bred with females that are homozygous for Prkdc (Prkdc ^+/+ ) and homozygous (Hr ^+/+ ) or heterozygous (Hr ^+/~ ) for Hr.

[0061]

Table 1. Schematic of Breeding to Produce Hairless NOD scid Mice

[0062] Optionally, mice with spontaneous or targeted mutations of the hairless gene other than Hr ^hr that result in the phenotype of hairlessness may be used, including but not limited to Hr ^rh , Hr ^ba , Hr", hr ^rh8j , hr ^rhchr , hr ^rhsl , hr ^rhy , and hr ^TgN5053Mm .

Phenotyping of hairless NOD scid mice.

[0063] Hairless NOD scid mice are weighed periodically for growth curve analysis.

Additionally, the mice receive standard chemistry panel and complete blood tests and bone marrow smears. Flow cytometry is used to test for the presence of B cell and T cell markers, NK cells, macrophages, and complement. Further tests include histopathology on the thymus, spleen, bone marrow, and lymph nodes, as well as skin (mammary fat pad and dermis).

[0064] Tests known to those skilled in the art are also performed to determine the immunodeficiency of the hairless NOD scid mice, including examination of immunoglobulin levels, and NK cell, macrophage, and complement activity. Mice are also monitored for the incidence of spontaneous lymphoma.

Table 2. Complete Blood Counts and immunoglobulin levels in hairless NOD scid mice compared to BALB/c and NOD scid

Mouse lymphocytes/ul IgG (MFI counts) IgG (ng/ul estimate)

Hr NOD scid male 286 4622 2-5

Hr NOD scid female 528 7563 2-5

BALB/c male 5308 16252 80

BALB/c female 8670 17575 80

NOD.scid male 1857 7883 2-5

NOD.scid female 1809 6109 2-5

EXAMPLE. Complete Blood Counts in Hr NOD scid compared to NOD scid mice

[0065] Animals were euthanized and terminally bled for CBC and serum antibody

(Ab) measurement. Routine CBCs were performed. White blood cell counts, red blood cell and platelet parameters were measured on a HEMAVET 950FS automated hematology analyzer. White blood cell differentials were obtained from a blood smear obtained at the time of blood collection. Results of this manual differential were used to calculate estimated numbers of each white blood cell type.

Table 3. Complete Blood Counts in hairless NOD scid mice compared to NOD scid

Histopathology

[0066] Histpathological indices are compared between Hr NOD scid and NOD scid mice. Axillary, inguinal, cervical/mandibular, and mesenteric lymph nodes were harvested as well as spleen, thymus, mammary tissue, cecum, and pancreas. Bone marrow smears were collected from femoral bone marrow and the sternum and femur were collected for histologic analysis.

[0067] In hairless NOD scid mice, the lymph nodes and splenic white pulp appear void of cells with typical lymphocyte morphology (condensed nucleus, scant cytoplasm). The remaining visible cells are reticular support cells, dendritic cells, macrophages, and NK cells. There are varying degrees of hematopoiesis in the splenic red pulp.

Immune cell markers

[0068] EXAMPLE. Immunoglobins. Serum antibody was measured by multiplex fluorescent immunoassay (MFI). All IgG measurements for Hr NOD scid mice were less than 6.25μg/mL, or below the threshold for leakiness in SCID models.

[0069] EXAMPLE. Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) of surface antigens on splenocytes. Cell surface antigens were analyzed to determine the type and level of immune cell deficits in Hr NOD scid mice compared to NOD scid mice.

Materials and Methods

[0070] Splenocyte harvest. Freshly removed spleens are placed in a petri dish containing 2 ml complete RPMI-10 (450 ml RPMI-1640, 50M1 FBS, 7.5 ml 1M HEPES, pH7.2). The spleens are cut with a scalpel blade in several places. Using a circular motion, pieces of spleen are pressed against the bottom of the petri dish with the plunger of a 5 ml syringe until mostly fibrous tissue remains. The clumps are further dispensed in the suspension by drawing up and expelling the suspension several times through a 5 ml syringe with a 20g needle. The suspension is expelled into a Falcon 12 x 75 mm polypropylene tube through a cell strainer.

[0071] Removal of Red Blood Cells. Two milliliters of PHARM LYSE (diluted 1 : 10 in Milli-Q water) is added to the splenocyte suspension. The suspension is then immediately vortexed, and incubated 15 minutes in the dark at room temperature. The suspension is then centrifuge at 200 x g for 5 minutes at 4°C. Without disturbing the pellet, the supernatant is carefully poured off and the rim of the test tube is blotted off onto paper towel. The pellet is then resuspended in 1ml cold staining buffer. The suspension is passed through a cell strainer into a clean FALCON 12 x 75 mm polypropylene tube, which are kept on ice.

[0072] Cell counts. Fifty microliters Trypan Blue, 90 μΐ staining buffer, and 10 μΐ cell suspension are added in a 0.5 ml eppendorf tube. After thorough mixing, 30 μΐ is loaded onto a hemacytometer. Viable cells are counted on a 10X objective (viable cells appear refractile, whereas dead cells are blue). The pellet is then centrifuged at 350 x g for 5 minutes and then resuspended to a suitable final volume (1 x 10 ⁶ cells per 200 μΐ sample for FACS analysis) and aliquoted into 1.5 ml tubes.

[0073] Fluorescent Immunostaining for Cell Surface Antigens. The cells are immunostained with fluorochrome-conjugated monoclonal antibodies specific for a cell surface antigen. Cells are incubated with antibodies for 30 minutes at 4°C in the dark. Then, they are pelleted by centrifugation at 500 x 5 for 5 minutes, followed by resuspension in 500 μΐ cold staining buffer and transfer to FALCON 12 x 75 mm polystyrene tubes. Visible clumps are removed prior to FACS analysis.

Table 4. The antibodies are as follows:

Results

[0074] Flow cytometry analysis confirmed that the Hr NOD scid mice were nearly completely lacking T-cells and B-cells. CD 19, a common B-cell lineage marker, showed that both strains were nearly devoid of mature B cells (Fig. 5). The Hr NOD scid mice had fewer lymphocytes overall than NOD scid mice. In particular NK cells (Fig. 2) and dendritic cells (Fig. 3) in the Hr NOD scid mice were markedly decreased in comparison to the NOD scid. Statistically significant differences were found between the T- and NK-cell sup-populations as well as the dendritic cells of both strains. Flow cytometry data was analyzed in two-way ANOVA using SAS. P-values of 0.05 or less were indicative of significant variance (Hr NOD scid, n = 12; NOD scid, n = 10).

[0075] Positive staining for cell surface antigens of the table below is used to distinguish various types of immune cells.

Table 5.

EXAMPLE. Xenograft of tumorigenic cell lines.

[0076] Tumorigenic cell lines derived from cancers of bladder, breast, head and neck, colon, blood, liver, lung, melanoma, ovary, pancreas, prostate, or testes are transplanted to hairless NOD scid mice according to procedures known in the art. The following cell lines are tested for ability to be uptaken and grow in hairless NOD scid mice: HTLA-230 (Brignole et al, 2004), CT-26 (Guba et al, 2001), BW5147 (Geldhof et al, (1998), Grant 519 (Wang et al, 2007), Karpas 299 (Francisco et al, 2003), L540cy (Francisco et al, 2003, Colo-699 (Boehle et al, 2001), SITl (Bromberg et al, 2005), TAC 7 (Bromberg et al, 2005), DU-145 (Glinskii et al, 2005).

[0077] Human large cell lymphoma cell line KARPAS-299 and mantle cell lymphoma cell line JEKO-1 is purchased from ATCC. KARPAS-299 cells are cultured in RPMI 1640 with 10% FBS, JEKO-1 cells in RPMI 1640 as well, with 20% FBS. Female mice at approximately eight weeks of age are subcutaneously inoculated with 1.0 X 10 ⁷ cells with Matrigel in a 1 : 1 dilution with cell suspension.

[0078] The KARPAS-299 cell line will not grow in athymic mice without whole body irradiation. In contrast, the Hr NOD scid model exhibited robust growth with subcutaneous injection without irradiation (Fig. 11). The JEKO-1 tumor cell line can be successfully transplanted into athymic nude mice whether or not they are irradiated prior to inoculation, though initial proliferation is slow. In this study, the athymic nude mice had approximately 25-27 days lag time to log-phase growth (Fig. 9), whereas the Hr NOD scid mouse showed rapid and vigorous growth (Fig. 10). Indeed, all Hr NOD scid mice developed tumors within 14 days post inoculation.

[0079] Additional cell lines are tested for uptake and growth in hairless NOD scid mice including: U251-NG, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, T47D, CX-1, DLD-1, HAC-7, HC116, HT-29, FaDu, HNX-OE, A549, H322, H358, LL2, NCI-8460, NCI-N417, B16F10, MOT, OVCAR3, CFPAC-1, Colo57, MlaPaca-2, PANC-1, PL45, CWR22, LNAI, PC-3, NCCIT, T24, G55, U87MG, SH-SY5Y, MCF-7, MT-1, HPB-ALL, HepTl, Hep3B, HuH6, and SKOV3. The ability of other cell types to thrive upon implantation, such as stem cells (expressing CD34), is also tested.

[0080] Other mouse strains such as NOD scid, athymic nude, MF-1 hairless, CB.17,

BALB/c and the like may be included in experiments for comparative purposes.

[0081] Using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker-assisted backcrossing methodology, a hairless mutation (Hr ^hr ) has been transferred from an outbred Hsd01a:MFl- Hr ^hr to the NOD.CB17- r c ^sca /NCrHsd mouse to generate the inbred hairless NOD.Cg- Prkdc ^scid Hr ^hr iNCrlisd mouse, commonly named hairless NOD scid The immunologic characteristics of this model are herein described, which include B and T cell deficiency, a functional deficit of NK cells, and decreased macrophage and complement function. In addition, it is discovered herein that NK cells and dendritic cells are substantially reduced in Hr NOD scid mice compared to NOD scid.

[0082] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the foregoing description, such an illustration and description is to be considered as exemplary and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the illustrative embodiments have been described and that all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the invention are desired to be protected. Those of ordinary skill in the art may readily devise their own implementations that incorporate one or more of the features described herein, and thus fall within the scope of the present invention.

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