Detection and characterization of functional T cells in mice with severe combined immune deficiency

Fludarabine as a cost-effective adjuvant to enhance engraftment of human normal and malignant hematopoiesis in immunodeficient mice

There is still an unmet need for xenotransplantation models that efficiently recapitulate normal and malignant human hematopoiesis. Indeed, there are a number of strategies to generate humanized mice and specific protocols, including techniques to optimize the cytokine environment of recipient mice and drug alternatives or complementary to the standard conditioning regimens, that can be significantly modulated. Unfortunately, the high costs related to the use of sophisticated mouse models may limit the application of these models to studies that require an extensive experimental design. Here, using an affordable and convenient method, we demonstrate that the administration of fludarabine (Fludara^TM) promotes the extensive and rapid engraftment of human normal hematopoiesis in immunodeficient mice. Quantification of human CD45⁺ cells in bone marrow revealed approximately a 10²-fold increase in mice conditioned with irradiation plus fludarabine. Engrafted cells in the bone marrow included hematopoietic stem cells, as well as myeloid and lymphoid cells. Moreover, this model proved to be sufficient for robust reconstitution of malignant myeloid hematopoiesis, permitting primary acute myeloid leukemia cells to engraft as early as 8 weeks after the transplant. Overall, these results present a novel and affordable model for engraftment of human normal and malignant hematopoiesis in immunodeficient mice.

Age-dependent increase of peritoneal B-1b B cells in SCID mice

The impact of increasing age upon immunoglobulin production and B-lymphocyte generation in "leaky" severe combined immune-defective (SCID) mice was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry. By 1 year of age, the mice had normal numbers of B cells in their peritoneal cavity, while their spleen had very few immunoglobulin M-positive (IgM+) cells. The majority of B cells expressed the CD11b marker characteristic of the B-1b subset. B-1a (CD5+) cells were present at a lower frequency and B-2 cells were absent. The frequency of mice producing detectable immunoglobulin increased with age, and isotype diversity within individual mice was variable. IgM production was most frequently observed followed by IgG3 and IgG2a, then IgG1, and finally IgA. The selective persistence of the B-1 B-cell subset in the peritoneal cavity of aging SCID mice is a natural model for the study of those genetic and environmental influences that determine lymphocyte longevity.

Irradiation promotes V(D)J joining and RAG-dependent neoplastic transformation in SCID T-cell precursors

Defects in the nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) pathway of double-stranded DNA break repair severely impair V(D)J joining and selectively predispose mice to the development of lymphoid neoplasia. This connection was first noted in mice with the severe combined immune deficient (SCID) mutation in the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK). SCID mice spontaneously develop thymic lymphoma with low incidence and long latency. However, we and others showed that low-dose irradiation of SCID mice dramatically increases the frequency and decreases the latency of thymic lymphomagenesis, but irradiation does not promote the development of other tumors. We have used this model to explore the mechanistic basis by which defects in NHEJ confer selective and profound susceptibility to lymphoid oncogenesis. Here, we show that radiation quantitatively and qualitatively improves V(D)J joining in SCID cells, in the absence of T-cell receptor-mediated cellular selection. Furthermore, we show that the lymphocyte-specific endonuclease encoded by the recombinase-activating genes (RAG-1 and RAG-2) is required for radiation-induced thymic lymphomagenesis in SCID mice. Collectively, these data suggest that irradiation induces a DNA-PK-independent NHEJ pathway that facilitates V(D)J joining, but also promotes oncogenic misjoining of RAG-1/2-induced breaks in SCID T-cell precursors.

Immunoglobulin leakiness in scid mice with CD4(+) T-cell-induced chronic colitis

Inflammatory bowel disease in scid mice is initiated by transplantation of CD4(+) T-cells from immunocompetent syngenic donor mice. As the disease progresses, immunoglobulin (Ig)-containing cells appear in the gut lamina propria, suggesting that locally accumulating Ig may play a role in disease development. In the present work we have investigated the relationship between disease progression and patterns or levels of Ig isotypes in the feces of scid mice suffering from an ongoing colitis. The data clearly showed that the severity or progression of the disease did not influence the levels of IgA, IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgG3, whereas the level of fecal IgM increased during the course of colitis. The presence of the serum protein alpha-1-antitrypsin in fecal extracts from diseased mice suggests that some of the fecal Ig has leaked through the inflamed epithelial membrane into the gut lumen. Finally, Ig-containing cells were observed in mesenteric lymph nodes and in the spleen, suggesting that the fecal Ig is produced both systemically and locally in the gut wall. In conclusion, the present results demonstrate that the level of IgM increases as colitis progresses. Also, the five remaining major Ig isotypes are increased in the gut lumen of scid mice with colitis, but the individual Ig types vary randomly during the course of the disease. Thus, it is unlikely that immunoglobulins are involved in the immunopathogenesis of this model of colitis.

Accessible xenografts of human synovium in the subcutaneous tissues of the ears of SCID mice

This work was undertaken to examine whether human synovium could be engrafted into subcutaneous pouches in the ears of severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. Synovium was transplanted into surgically constructed ear pouches. The grafts were examined by histological and immunohistochemical methods after varying periods after engraftment, or after percutaneous injection of TNF-alpha. Normal, osteo-arthritic and rheumatoid synovium was engrafted successfully in subcutaneous ear pouches. The general morphology and cellular compositions of xenografts were retained including human endothelial cells. In rheumatoid xenografts, macrophages, fibroblasts and lymphocytes persisted for at least 4 weeks. Vascular expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was maintained but expression of vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin and MHC class II diminished with time. Percutaneous injection of TNF-alpha induced up-regulation of VCAM-1. Human synovium can be engrafted into subcutaneous ear pouches in SCID mice. The xenografts are accessible and respond to injection of a pro-inflammatory cytokine.

Human cell-mediated rejection of porcine xenografts in an immunodeficient mouse model

BACKGROUND

In this study, we describe the development of a novel experimental system in which rejection of porcine skin grafts by human peripheral blood cells can be studied directly in vivo in immunodeficient mice.

METHODS

To construct a small animal model of discordant xenograft rejection, recombinase-activating gene-deficient mice (R-) lacking both mature B and T cells were grafted with porcine skin grafts and administered, by adoptive cell transfer, human cells stimulated in vitro with irradiated porcine peripheral blood cells to create Hu-R- mice.

RESULTS

R- mice accepted porcine skin grafts indefinitely without the need for immunosuppression. In contrast, Hu-R- mice were able to reject porcine skin grafts. Immunohistochemical analysis of rejecting skin grafts revealed the accumulation of human T cells around dermal porcine vessels and focally in the epidermis. Graft rejection was manifested by vascular endothelial cell proliferation, edema at the dermal-epidermal border, and perivascular hemorrhage. The tissue damage observed in the rejecting grafts was similar to that observed in delayed primate anti-porcine cell-mediated rejection of vascularized organ xenografts.

CONCLUSIONS

The development and characterization of a small animal model, to study cellular immune responses of human cells to discordant xenografts in vivo, should provide a convenient means for asking mechanistic questions related to discordant xenotransplantation, and may also provide a practical system for testing new approaches designed to prevent xenograft rejection.

Biochemical and genetic defects in the DNA-dependent protein kinase in murine scid lymphocytes

The scid gene product has been identified as the 460-kDa catalytic subunit of the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PKcs p460), a member of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase family. DNA-PK activity is undetectable in scid cells, but the molecular basis for this defect has not been identified. Here we report that expression of p460 in scid lymphocyte precursors is detectable but is reduced at least 10-fold relative to that in wild-type lymphocytes. In addition, we show that the scid mutation disturbs p460 nuclear association, presumably affecting its role in DNA repair pathways. To examine the molecular basis for our observations, we used a degenerate PCR strategy to clone the C-terminal p460 kinase domain from wild-type and scid thymocytes. Northern (RNA) analysis with these probes revealed normal steady-state p460 mRNA levels in scid cells, suggesting that the reduced abundance of p460 protein is due to a posttranscriptional defect. Sequence comparisons identified a single-base-pair alteration in the scid C-terminal p460 kinase domain, resulting in a premature stop codon. This mutation is predicted to truncate p460 by approximately 8 kDa, but it preserves the conserved motifs required for kinase activity in members of the phosphoinositidyl 3-kinase family. Despite a computed molecular weight alteration of less than 2%, we were able to visualize this difference by Western blot (immunoblot) analysis of wild-type and scid p460. These data demonstrate that the scid DNA-PKes mutation is not a null allele and suggest a molecular rationale for the well-described leakiness of the scid phenotype.

V(D)J recombination activates a p53-dependent DNA damage checkpoint in scid lymphocyte precursors

Double-stranded DNA breaks (DSBs) trigger p53-mediated cell cycle arrest or apoptosis pathways that limit the oncogenic consequences of exposure to genotoxic agents, but p53-mediated responses to DSB generated by normal physiologic events have not been documented. "Broken" V(D)J coding ends accumulate in scid lymphocyte precursors as a consequence of a mutation in DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK). The ensuing failure to rearrange efficiently antigen receptors arrests lymphoid development. Here we show that scid thymocytes express high levels of p53 protein, attributable to recombinase activating gene (RAG)-dependent generation of DSB adjacent to V, D, and J gene segments. To examine the functional importance of p53 expression in vivo, we bred p53-/- scid mice. The absence of p53 facilitated production of in-frame V(D)Jbeta coding joints and developmental progression of scid thymocytes, in addition to a dramatic accumulation of pro-B cells. All mice developed disseminated pro-B or immature T cell lymphoma/leukemia by 7-12 weeks of age. We present evidence that p53 deficiency prolongs the survival of scid lymphocyte precursors harboring broken V(D)J coding ends, allowing the accumulation of aneuploid cells. These results demonstrate that a p53-mediated DNA damage checkpoint contributes to the immune deficiency characteristic of the scid mutation and limits the oncogenic potential of DSBs generated during V(D)J recombination.

The use of SCID mice in biotechnology and as a model for human disease

The use of SCID (severe combined immunodeficient) mice in medical research and biotechnology has increased tremendously in recent years. This review outlines the major characteristics of these animals and the impediments that they pose to the engraftment of human cells and tissues. The development of our SCID mice pretreatment protocol (anti-asialo GM1 antisera and radiation) is described, and the results of xenotransplantation studies of human cells and tissues in these pretreated animals are outlined. Wherever possible, data from transplantation studies (of human tissues and cells) in pretreated and nonpretreated animals are compared. The potential of our pretreated SCID mice for medical research and biotechnology is discussed.

A gut-homing, oligoclonal CD4+ T cell population in severe-combined immunodeficient mice expressing a rearranged, transgenic class I-restricted alpha beta T cell receptor

We studied the peripheral T cell compartment of H-2b severe combined immunodeficient (scid) mice that express a transgenic (tg) alpha beta T cell receptor (TcR) specific for the H-Y (male) epitope presented by the H-2 class I Db molecule. Large populations of CD3+ NK1.1-TCR beta T+ T cells were present in spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes, peritoneal cavity, lamina propria and epithelial layer of the small and large intestine of 6- to 10-month-old, male and female tg scid mice. Only low numbers of CD3+ T cells were recovered from inguinal, popliteal, or axillary lymph nodes. We studied CD4+ T cells in these tg scid mice. CD4+ T cells were found in the peritoneal cavity, in the mesenteric lymph nodes and in the intraepithelial layer and lamina propria of the gut. All CD4+ T cells were CD44+ (i.e. showed evidence of antigen-driven differentiation) and expressed the tg V beta 8.2 TcR beta-chain (TcR beta T+). Only few CD4+ T cells expressed the tg V alpha 3+ TcR alpha-chain (TcR alpha T). cDNA was prepared from CD4+ T cells from spleen or mesenteric lymph nodes of individual male and female tg scid mice; sequence analyses of polymerase chain reaction-amplified, endogenous TcR alpha-chain (TcR alpha E) transcripts indicated that > 90% of the TcR alpha E-chain transcripts were in-frame, that the TcR alpha E repertoire in CD4+ T cell populations was oligoclonal, and that the TcR alpha E repertoire was different in individual tg scid mice. Hence, an oligoclonal, leaky CD4+ T cell population is selected in tg scid mice that apparently responds to gut-derived antigens. No inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was evident in the small or large intestine of 6- to 10-month old tg scid mice. After adoptive transfer of purified CD4+ T cells (10(5) cells per mouse) from tg scid mice into non-tg H-2b scid mice, CD4+ TcR alpha T-beta T+ cells were found in gut tissues of the immunodeficient host. Transplanted scid mice developed clinical and histological signs of IBD. An oligoclonal, gut-homing, memory/effector CD4+ CD44+ TcR beta T+ TcR alpha T-T cell subset from leaky tg scid mice thus has a pathogenic potential when released from the control of TcR beta T+ TcR alpha T+ T cells.

DNA-dependent kinase (p350) as a candidate gene for the murine SCID defect

Severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice are deficient in a recombination process utilized in both DNA double-strand break repair and in V(D)J recombination. The phenotype of these mice involves both cellular hypersensitivity to ionizing radiation and a lack of B and T cell immunity. The catalytic subunit of DNA-dependent protein kinase, p350, was identified as a strong candidate for the murine gene SCID. Both p350 and a gene complementing the SCID defect colocalize to human chromosome 8q11. Chromosomal fragments expressing p350 complement the SCID phenotype, and p350 protein levels are greatly reduced in cells derived from SCID mice compared to cells from wild-type mice.

V(D)J recombination in peritoneal B cells of leaky scid mice

Developing lymphocytes in immune-deficient severe combined immunodeficient (scid) mice express a defective recombinase activity and rarely succeed in making an antigen receptor; those cells that do succeed account for the known B and T cell leakiness in this mutant mouse strain. To gain more insight into the nature of the scid defect, we assessed the status of heavy (H) and light (L)k, chain genes in immunoglobulin (Ig)Mk-secreting B cells from the peritoneal cavity of old leaky scid mice, the only lymphoid site where scid B cells have been routinely detected. We found these cells to be unusual in that their nonexpressed H chain alleles were either abnormally rearranged or in germline configuration (wild-type B cells generally show normal rearrangements at both H chain alleles). The VDJH junctions of the expressed alleles showed little or no nontemplated (N) addition, similar to neonatal B cells from wild-type mice. About half of the V(D)J junctions lacking N additions contained nucleotides that could have been encoded by either of the participating coding elements (VDH, DJH, or VJk), indicating that the recombination occurred between short stretches of homology. Unusually long templated (P) additions were seen in both VDJH and VJK junctions, and many recombinations appeared to involve P-based homologies. These findings suggest that: (a) B cell leakiness results from a low frequency of coding joint formation in cells expressing the defective scid recombinase activity; (b) joining of scid coding ends is facilitated when the ends contain short stretches of sequence homology, where in many cases, one of the homologous sequences results from a P addition; and (c) scid peritoneal B cells may arise early in ontogeny.

An immunohistologic analysis of murine uterine T cells between birth and puberty

Murine uterine T cells were analysed on the basis of surface phenotype expression from birth to adulthood. T cells were rare in the uterus from birth until 2 weeks of age. In genetically immunocompetent mice, mature T cells expressing either TCR alpha/beta or TCR gamma/delta were first present as a major cell population at 3 weeks of age. The ratio of TCR alpha/beta to TCR gamma/delta was 1:1 at 3 weeks of age and this ratio did not change during sexual maturation. Almost all uterine T cells were CD8+ and the majority of these cells expressed CD8 alpha/beta rather than CD8 alpha/alpha. Cells expressing Thy1.2 were less frequent than cells expressing CD3 while cells expressing CD5 were rare. No major changes in T cell subsets occurred at puberty. Further, the microbial flora of the mice did not alter the time of appearance, frequency or subset distribution of uterine TCR+ cells. In the uteri of immunodeficient mice of genotype scid/scid TCR+ cells were found in low numbers and the initial appearance of TCR+ cells was delayed until 5 weeks of age.

Selective engraftment of memory CD4+ T cells with an unusual recirculation pattern and a diverse T cell receptor-V beta repertoire into scid mice

Young (H-2d, Ld+) severe combined immunodeficiency (scid) mice were injected intravenously with 10(5) CD4+CD8- T cells purified from spleen, thymus or lymph nodes (LN) of dm2 (H-2d, Ld-) donor mice. In the immunodeficient recipients, the lymphoid compartment in the splenic white pulp was repopulated with donor-type T cells and cellularity in the red pulp was increased. In addition, donor-type CD4+ T cells repopulated the peritoneal cavity, mesenteric LN and the lamina propria of the small intestine of scid mice, but were undetectable in thymus and peripheral (inguinal, axillary) LN. Histological examination of repopulated mesenteric LN showed expanded subcapsular sinuses, repopulated cortical areas, but poorly developed high endothelial venules (HEV) indicating deficient blood-LN lymphocyte recirculation. The engrafted CD4+ T cell population had the surface phenotype of memory T cells (CD44/Pgp-1high CD45RB(low) and expressed the Peyer's patch HEV-specific homing receptor CD49d (LPAM-1), but not the LN HEV-specific homing receptor LECAM-1. The CD4+ T cell population in spleen and mesenteric LN of transplanted scid mice displayed a diverse T cell receptor-V beta repertoire. Transfer of titrated numbers (10(3), 10(4), 10(5) cells per mouse) of CD4+ T cells into scid mice established donor-type T cell populations with this unusual homing pattern in all recipients. Repeated serial transfers of dm2 CD4+ T cells through young scid mice revealed an extensive in vivo expansion potential of transferred cells for > 18 months. The experimental system described represents an in vivo model to study the functional competence and the differentiation potential of a murine memory CD4+ T cell subset.

In vivo models of human lymphopoiesis and autoimmunity in severe combined immune deficient mice

The discovery of the SCID mouse mutation has been an important advance for the study of human lymphopoiesis and autoimmunity. Further work in the SCID mouse models described in this review should yield important new information related to transplantation of human hematopoietic stem cells across HLA barriers, characterization of hematopoietic development in vivo, and identification of pathogenic human T cell clones in organ-specific autoimmune diseases. If pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells and pathogenic autoimmune T cells can be defined using SCID mouse recipients, this would pave the way for development of novel strategies for bone marrow transplantation and for interventional immunotherapy of autoimmune diseases targeted at the T cell receptor (99).

RAG-1-deficient mice have no mature B and T lymphocytes

The V(D)J recombination activation gene RAG-1 was isolated on the basis of its ability to activate V(D)J recombination on an artificial substrate in fibroblasts. This property and the expression pattern in tissues and cell lines indicate that RAG-1 either activates or catalyzes the V(D)J recombination reaction of immunoglobulin and T cell receptor genes. We here describe the introduction of a mutation in RAG-1 into the germline of mice via gene targeting in embryonic stem cells. RAG-1-deficient mice have small lymphoid organs that do not contain mature B and T lymphocytes. The arrest of B and T cell differentiation occurs at an early stage and correlates with the inability to perform V(D)J recombination. The immune system of the RAG-1 mutant mice can be described as that of nonleaky scid mice. Although RAG-1 expression has been reported in the central nervous system of the mouse, no obvious neuroanatomical or behavioral abnormalities have been found in the RAG-1-deficient mice.

The hu-PBL-SCID mouse model. Long-term human serologic evolution associated with the xenogeneic transfer of human peripheral blood leukocytes into SCID mice

We present a 2-year serologic analysis of severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) mice populated with human peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL, hu-PBL-SCID mice). After 10-20 x 10(6) PBL transfer, human IgG serum levels generally increased in the SCID mouse recipient for 2 months, and thereafter decreased without returning to zero for at least 2 years. Great variability existed between different hu-PBL-SCID mice with regard to Ig serum levels even when derived from the same donor's PBL aliquot. The ratio of IgM to IgG serum levels was lower in hu-PBL-SCID mice than in the donors. The half-life of human IgG in the SCID mouse is shorter than in the human (8 days vs 23 days), suggesting a much higher production of IgG than expected from serum levels. The majority of hu-PBL-SCID mouse sera analyzed by high resolution electrophoresis had a smear appearance suggestive of diverse human Ig, generally with superimposed multiple faint mIg. Few mice developed strong human mIg, associated with lymphoproliferative diseases. In the hu-PBL-SCID mouse model, the transfer of cells from donors making antibody with defined specificity against TT and nuclear antigen resulted in the appearance of these antibodies in only a minority of the recipients.

Selective reconstitution of T lymphocyte subsets in scid mice

The 'empty' splenic T-cell compartment of young scid mice was partially and selectively reconstituted by low numbers of adoptively transferred congenic (C.B-17, BALB/c) or semi-allogeneic (dm2), but not completely allogeneic (C57BL/6) CD4+ T cells from adult donor mice. Under the same experimental conditions, the CD8+ T-cell compartment of young scid mice could only be reconstituted in scid mice continuously substituted with IL-2. CD4+ T cells engrafted in the spleen of H-2d scid recipients displayed specific, anti-Ad-associated proliferative reactivity. (Semi)allogeneic CD8+ T cells engrafted in spleens of scid recipients showed no anti-host H-2 class I-associated cytotoxic reactivity, i.e., this T-cell compartment was specifically tolerized against host (allo)antigens. Reconstitution of lymph nodes was not observed following transplantation of purified CD4+ or CD8+ T cells. Antigen-specific, cellular immune responses could not be induced in scid mice selectively reconstituted with either CD4+ T cells or CD8+ T cells. Partial reconstitution of the CD4+ T-cell compartment was always associated with the appearance of scid-derived, 'endogenous' IgM-producing B cells. Serum antibodies of scid mice with this T cell-induced B-cell leakiness stained an immature subset of congenic thymocytes.

T-lymphocyte development in scid mice is arrested shortly after the initiation of T-cell receptor delta gene recombination

Scid mice lack functional lymphocytes because they carry a mutation that impairs rearrangement of immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor (TCR) genes. Rearrangement of TCR delta, but not gamma and beta genes, was routinely observed in DNA of scid thymocytes and thymocyte hybridomas. TCR delta gene rearrangements appeared to involve D delta 1, D delta 2, and J delta 1 elements only; rearrangement of elements upstream of D delta 1 (e.g., V delta 1) was not observed, and transcripts corresponding to fully assembled TCR delta genes (VDJ delta or VDDJ delta) were not detected in RNA from scid thymocytes. These findings suggest that D delta 1, D delta 2, and J delta 1 may be among the first TCR gene elements to undergo recombination and that scid T-lineage cells are developmentally arrested during or shortly after this stage of differentiation. One class of TCR delta recombination fragments (D delta 2-J delta 1) was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cloned, and the recombination junctions were sequenced. Most fragments showed normal coding joints. Interestingly, five of seven coding joints that lacked N insertions showed evidence of recombination between short stretches (2-3 bp) of homologous sequence. As discussed, the general absence of V delta-, J gamma-, and J beta-associated rearrangements, despite the occurrence of normal D delta 2-J delta 1 rearrangements, raises the possibility that the scid mutation may cause premature cessation of TCR gene recombination and thereby arrest early T-cell development.

CD3+ T cells in severe combined immunodeficiency (scid) mice. II. Transplantation of dm2 lymphoid cells into semi-allogeneic scid mice

Intravenous injection of nonfractionated BALB/c-H-2dm2 (dm2) (Ld-) spleen cells into 4-week-old, semi-allogeneic (H-2d, Ld+) C.B-17 scid/scid severe combined immunodeficient (scid) mice (2 x 10(7) cells/mouse) reconstituted T lymphopoiesis in thymi and repopulated the lymphoid white pulp in spleens of these immunodeficient recipients. Transplantation of dm2 thymocytes into young scid mice (5 x 10(7) cells/mouse) established a donor-derived CD3+ T cell population in spleens of recipient scid mice, in which CD4+T cells predominated. This was demonstrated by marker analyses of thymocytes and splenocytes, and determinations of serum immunoglobulin levels in transplanted scid mice. Transfer of splenocytes from young primary scid recipients into young secondary or tertiary recipients (3 x 10(6) cells/mouse) engrafted preferentially dm2-derived CD3+CD4+CD8- T cells in spleens of scid mice despite the strong selective Ld-associated alloantigenic stimulus for CD8+ T cells. Intravenous injections of nonfractionated dm2 spleen cells (2 x 10(7) cells/mouse) or thymocytes 5 x 10(7) cells/mouse) into 10- to 12-month-old, "leaky" scid mice induced severe clinical signs of graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD) in all scid recipients. Lymphoid repopulation of spleen and thymus in old scid recipients was incomplete. This GVHD was not transferrable by injecting 3 x 10(6) spleen cells from old diseased primary scid recipients into secondary or tertiary young scid recipient mice. In these serial transfers, dm2-derived CD3+CD4+CD8- T cells were again preferentially engrafted in spleens of scid recipients. Transfer of purified CD4+ dm2 T cells into young scid mice (2 x 10(5) to 5 x 10(5) cells/mouse) engrafted this T cell subset into the spleen of semi-allogeneic scid recipients. This was revealed by histological examinations, surface marker analyses, in vitro isolation of donor-type CD3+CD4+ T cell lines from spleens of transplanted scid mice, and serial transfer experiments. These data indicated that the CD4+ T cell compartment of scid mice can be selectively repopulated by semi-allogeneic T cells. Injections of purified CD8+ dm2 T-cells into young scid mice (2 x 10(5) cells/mouse) did not establish a CD8+ T cell graft in spleens of recipients. It was necessary to inject transplanted scid mice biweekly with 10(4) units recombinant interleukin 2 to establish and/or maintain transferred dm2 CD8+ T cells in spleens of these recipients, dm2 CD8+ T cell-transplanted and interleukin 2-treated scid mice did not develop any evidence of GVHD over the 9-week observation period.

Coding joint formation of endogenous T cell receptor genes in lymphoid cells from scid mice: unusual P-nucleotide additions in VJ-coding joints

The mouse mutation scid adversely affects the process of VDJ recombination. Attempts to form coding joints, that is, to joint V or D to J gene segments generally fail in developing scid lymphocytes. It has been proposed that the scid mutation results a defective VDJ recombinase system. Here we describe five scid T cell lymphomas containing one or two TcR gamma coding joints each, even though the majority of the multiple TcR gamma chain gene rearrangements and all TcR beta rearrangements in these cells were abnormal with the deletions typically found in scid lymphoid cells. One of the five T cell lymphomas was shown to have an active VDJ recombinase system; however, this activity was defective indicating that the scid phenotype has been retained. We conclude that the scid VDJ recombinase system has not completely lost the ability to form coding joints. P-nucleotide additions of unusual length or composition were found at the junctional border in five of the eight TcR gamma coding joints. This might reflect a defect in the activity of a component of the VDJ recombinase system involved in the generation of P-nucleotide additions. In one of the observed rearrangements, a V gamma 5-J gamma 3 coding joint was formed. This establishes the transcriptional orientation of J gamma 3-C gamma 3 and confirms a previously proposed organization of the TcR gamma genes.

CD3+ T cells in severe combined immune deficiency (scid) mice. I. Transferred purified CD4+ T cells, but not CD8+ T cells are engrafted in the spleen of congenic scid mice

Young (less than 3 months of age) and old (greater than 1 year of age) C.B-17 scid/scid mice were tested for the presence of immunoglobulin in serum and CD3+ T cells in spleen and peritoneal cavity. In all old severe combined immune deficiency (scid) mice tested we found detectable, but very variable levels of serum immunoglobulin as well as splenic and peritoneal CD3+ T cells comprising 3% to 10% of the nonfractionated cell populations of these organs (n = 10). In contrast, none of the analyzed young scid mice showed any evidence of peripheral lymphocytes. Low numbers (2 x 10(5) to 5 x 10(5) cells/mouse) of highly purified CD4+ cells from congenic C.B-17 or BALB/c donor mice were injected intravenously into young scid recipient mice. A CD4+ T cell population was clearly engrafted when transplanted scid mice were analyzed 8 to 13 weeks after T cell transfer: (a) a CD3+CD4+CD8- T cell population was detectable in the spleens of all recipient scid mice by flow microfluorometry analyses; (b) CD3+CD4+CD8 T cell lines could be grown out of these spleens in vitro; (c) the histological examination revealed evidence of lymphoid cell repopulation in the spleens of all transplanted scid mice and (d) transplanted CD4+ T cell populations could be serially transferred into secondary and tertiary recipient scid mice. These data indicate that scid mice can be constructed in which only the CD4+ T cell compartment is selectively reconstituted. In contrast to the successful engraftment of CD4+ T cell, highly purified congenic CD8+ T cells could not be engrafted into the spleen of scid mice.

Successful engraftment of human postnatal thymus in severe combined immune deficient (SCID) mice: differential engraftment of thymic components with irradiation versus anti-asialo GM-1 immunosuppressive regimens

To develop a model of human thymus growth in vivo, we have implanted postnatal human thymus under the renal capsule of severe combined immune deficient (SCID) mice and assayed for graft survival and graft characteristics 1-3 mo after engraftment. Three groups of SCID mice were engrafted with postnatal human thymus: untreated SCID mice, SCID mice pretreated with 400 cGy of gamma irradiation 1-5 d before engraftment, and SCID mice treated with intraperitoneal anti-asialo GM-1 antiserum every 4-5 d during engraftment. In the untreated group of SCID mice, only 37% of grafts survived and consisted of human thymic microenvironment components and human immature thymocytes. Irradiation of SCID mice before engraftment improved survival of human thymic grafts to 83%, but these grafts were largely devoid of thymocytes and contained only thymic microenvironment components with large numbers of thymic macrophages. Treatment of SCID mice with anti-asialo GM-1 antiserum throughout the engraftment period also promoted human thymus engraftment (70%) and induced SCID B cell Ig production (SCID[Ig+]) in 38% of animals. In SCID(Ig-) anti-asialo GM-1-treated mice, the human thymic grafts were similar in content to those in untreated SCID mice. However, in anti-asialo GM-1-treated animals with grafts that became SCID(Ig+), all animals were found to have mouse-human chimeric grafts in that the human thymic microenvironment (human fibroblasts, thymic epithelium, vessels) was colonized by murine T cells. These data demonstrate that human postnatal thymus will grow as xenografts in SCID mice, and that the components of human thymus that engraft are dependent on the immunosuppressive regimen used in recipient mice. A striking finding in this study was the induction of T and B lymphopoiesis in SCID mice by abrogation of NK cell activity with in vivo anti-asialo GM-1 treatment. These data strongly suggest that asialo GM-1+ NK cells and/or macrophages play a role in mediation of suppression of lymphopoiesis in SCID mice.

Wild-type V(D)J recombination in scid pre-B cells

Homozygous mutation at the scid locus in the mouse results in the aberrant rearrangement of immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor gene segments. We introduced a retroviral vector containing an inversional immunoglobulin rearrangement cassette into scid pre-B cells. Most rearrangements were accompanied by large deletions, consistent with previously characterized effects of the scid mutation. However, two cell clones were identified which contained perfect reciprocal fragments and wild-type coding joints, documenting, on a molecular level, the ability of scid pre-B cells to generate functional protein-coding domains. Subsequent rearrangement of the DGR cassette in one of these clones was accompanied by a deletion, suggesting that this cell clone had not reverted the scid mutation. Indeed, induced rearrangement of the endogenous kappa loci in these two cell clones resulted in a mixture of scid and wild-type V-J kappa joints, as assayed by a polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing. In addition, three immunoglobulin mu- scid pre-B cell lines showed both scid and wild-type V-J kappa joins. These experiments strongly suggest that the V(D)J recombinase activity in scid lymphoid cells is diminished but not absent, consistent with the known leakiness of the scid mutation.

Wild-type V(D)J recombination in scid pre-B cells

Homozygous mutation at the scid locus in the mouse results in the aberrant rearrangement of immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor gene segments. We introduced a retroviral vector containing an inversional immunoglobulin rearrangement cassette into scid pre-B cells. Most rearrangements were accompanied by large deletions, consistent with previously characterized effects of the scid mutation. However, two cell clones were identified which contained perfect reciprocal fragments and wild-type coding joints, documenting, on a molecular level, the ability of scid pre-B cells to generate functional protein-coding domains. Subsequent rearrangement of the DGR cassette in one of these clones was accompanied by a deletion, suggesting that this cell clone had not reverted the scid mutation. Indeed, induced rearrangement of the endogenous kappa loci in these two cell clones resulted in a mixture of scid and wild-type V-J kappa joints, as assayed by a polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing. In addition, three immunoglobulin mu- scid pre-B cell lines showed both scid and wild-type V-J kappa joins. These experiments strongly suggest that the V(D)J recombinase activity in scid lymphoid cells is diminished but not absent, consistent with the known leakiness of the scid mutation.

Normal recombination substrate VH to DJH rearrangements in pre-B cell lines from scid mice

To further analyze the VDJ recombination defect in lymphoid pre-B cells from mice with severe combined immune deficiency (scid mice), we have assayed the ability of Abelson murine leukemia virus (A-MuLV) transformed pre-B cells from scid mice to rearrange a recombination substrate in which inverted VH to DJH joins activate a selectable (gpt) gene. In unselected populations, substrate rearrangements occurred frequently, but were aberrant and probably analogous to the aberrant rearrangements observed at endogenous scid Ig gene loci. In contrast, populations of scid pre-B lines selected for gpt activity within the substrate contained mostly "normal" VH to DJH joins within the introduced substrate. These findings demonstrate that scid pre-B cells can make normal joins at low efficiency and are discussed with respect to the potential mechanism of the scid defect and the occurrence of Igs in leaky scid mice.

T-cell receptor gene rearrangements in functional T-cell clones from severe combined immune deficient (scid) mice: reversion of the scid phenotype in individual lymphocyte progenitors

The severe combined immune deficient (scid) mouse mutant is characterized by a general absence of functional B and T lymphocytes. This deficiency appears to result from a defect in the variable-diversity-joining (VDJ) recombinase system, which is responsible for the assembly of V, D, and J gene segments that code for immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor (TCR) V regions. Most rearranged immunoglobulin or TCR genes in transformed scid lymphocytes contain abnormal J-associated deletions and are nonfunctional. A few functional lymphocyte clones do arise, however, in some young adult scid mice and in virtually all old scid mice; this phenomenon is referred to as leakiness. Alloreactive, CD3+ T-cell clones were isolated from leaky scid mice and the status of their TCR beta and gamma loci was examined in an effort to assess the nature of the recombinase activity that gives rise to functional scid lymphocytes. The recombination junctions of six gamma and two beta alleles were sequenced, representing four alloreactive T-cell clones. All of the junctions were indistinguishable from those seen in normal cells. These results cannot be attributed to selection by antigen because other rearranged TCR genes account for the TCR molecules expressed by these T-cell clones. We conclude that reversion of the scid phenotype can occur in rare lymphocyte progenitors and may account for most functional lymphocyte clones in leaky scid mice.

T cell leakiness in scid mice

FACS analysis showed that the incidence of leaky T cells increases with age, such that virtually all old scid mice (greater than 1 year) contain detectable CD3+ cells. The number of detectable T cells remained very low; individual old scid mice generally contained less than 10(5) CD3+ cells. When CD3+ populations in individual leaky mice were analyzed for expression of the T cell subset markers, CD4 and CD8, the ratios of CD4/CD8 were found to be markedly skewed relative to normal mice. This suggested the presence of very few T cell clones. Indeed, the analysis of TCR gene rearrangements in polyclonally stimulated T cell cultures revealed only 1-5 clones in the pooled spleen and lymph nodes of individual old scid mice. These studies also indicated that TCR gene rearrangements in the majority of the stimulated T cell cultures did not contain abnormal J-associated deletions that are characteristic of antigen receptor genes of scid lymphomas. Four of five alloreactive T cell clones from leaky scid mice also apparently lacked abnormal J-associated deletions in their rearranged TCR alleles. Therefore, most leaky lymphocytes appear to derive from progenitors with normal or near-normal scid recombinase activity. However, one of five leaky T cell clones (S1233) and one Con A stimulated monoclonal culture (8706) contained both normally and abnormally rearranged TCR genes. The configuration of TCR loci in such clones may reflect the ability of the defective scid recombinase to mediate normal rearrangements at a low frequency.

The effect of the scid mutation on mechanism and control of immunoglobulin heavy and light chain gene rearrangement

Most Abelson murine leukemia virus (A-MuLV)-transformed cell lines derived from scid (severe combined immune deficient) mice actively rearrange their endogenous immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy (H), but not light (L) chain variable region genes. Such cell lines express germline VH segments and other RNA transcripts that are characteristically produced by early precursor (pre)-B lymphocytes, but do not express high levels of transcripts from the germline kappa (k) constant region (C kappa) locus. However, we have derived scid A-MuLV transformants that express germline C kappa transcripts and attempt kappa gene assembly. In one case kappa gene expression and rearrangement occurred in the absence of mu H chain expression, and in another was not induced efficiently by introduction of a mu-expression vector. Although the vast majority of scid H and L chain coding sequence joins are grossly aberrant, scid A-MuLV transformants can form normal coding joints at a very low frequency. In contrast, these cells form generally normal signal sequence joins at an approximately normal efficiency. Thus, these findings mechanistically distinguish coding and signal join formation. Subcloning analyses suggest that scid A-MuLV transformants that do not attempt chromosomal coding sequence joining may have a relative survival advantage, and therefore that these events may often result in unrepaired chromosomal breakage and cell death.