Human immune system development and survival of non-obese diabetic (NOD)-scid IL2rγ(null) (NSG) mice engrafted with human thymus and autologous haematopoietic stem cells

Patient-Derived-Xenografts in Mice: A Preclinical Platform for Cancer Research

The use of patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) has dramatically improved drug development programs. PDXs (1) reproduce the pathological features and the genomic profile of the parental tumors more precisely than other preclinical models, and (2) more faithfully predict therapy response. However, PDXs have limitations. These include the inability to completely capture tumor heterogeneity and the role of the immune system, the low engraftment efficiency of certain tumor types, and the consequences of the human-host interactions. Recently, the use of novel mouse strains and specialized engraftment techniques has enabled the generation of "humanized" PDXs, partially overcoming such limitations. Importantly, establishing, characterizing, and maintaining PDXs is costly and requires a significant regulatory, administrative, clinical, and laboratory infrastructure. In this review, we will retrace the historical milestones that led to the implementation of PDXs for cancer research, review the most recent innovations in the field, and discuss future avenues to tackle deficiencies that still exist.

Liposome-encapsulated progesterone efficiently suppresses B-lineage cell proliferation

Progesterone suppresses several ancient pathways in a concentration-dependent manner. Based on these characteristics, progesterone is considered a candidate anticancer drug. However, the concentration of progesterone used for therapy should be higher than the physiological concentration, which makes it difficult to develop progesterone-based anticancer drugs. We previously developed liposome-encapsulated progesterone (Lipo-P4) with enhanced anticancer effects, which strongly suppressed triple-negative breast cancer cell proliferation in humanized mice. In this study, we aimed to clarify whether Lipo-P4 effectively suppresses the proliferation of B-lineage cancer cells. We selected six B-cell lymphoma and two myeloma cell lines, and analyzed their surface markers using flow cytometry. Next, we prepared liposome-encapsulated progesterone and examined its effect on cell proliferation in these B-lineage cancer cells, three ovarian clear cell carcinoma cell lines, two prostate carcinoma cell lines, and one triple-negative breast cancer adenocarcinoma cell line. Lipo-P4 suppressed the proliferation of all cancer cell lines. All B-lineage cell lines, except for the HT line, were more susceptible than the other cell types, regardless of the expression of differentiation markers. Empty liposomes did not suppress cell proliferation. These results suggest that progesterone encapsulated in liposomes efficiently inhibits the proliferation of B-lineage cells and may become an anticancer drug candidate for B-lineage cancers.

Fetal liver CD34+ contain human immune and endothelial progenitors and mediate solid tumor rejection in NOG mice

BACKGROUND

Transplantation of CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) into immunodeficient mice is an established method to generate humanized mice harbouring a human immune system. Different sources and methods for CD34+ isolation have been employed by various research groups, resulting in customized models that are difficult to compare. A more detailed characterization of CD34+ isolates is needed for a better understanding of engraftable hematopoietic and potentially non-hematopoietic cells. Here we have performed a direct comparison of CD34+ isolated from cord blood (CB-CD34+) or fetal liver (FL-CD34+ and FL-CD34+CD14-) and their engraftment into immunocompromised NOD/Shi-scid Il2rgnull (NOG) mice.

METHODS

NOG mice were transplanted with either CB-CD34+, FL-CD34+ or FL-CD34+CD14- to generate CB-NOG, FL-NOG and FL-CD14--NOG, respectively. After 15-20 weeks, the mice were sacrificed and human immune cell reconstitution was assessed in blood and several organs. Liver sections were pathologically assessed upon Haematoxylin and Eosin staining. To assess the capability of allogenic tumor rejection in CB- vs. FL-reconstituted mice, animals were subcutaneously engrafted with an HLA-mismatched melanoma cell line. Tumor growth was assessed by calliper measurements and a Luminex-based assay was used to compare the cytokine/chemokine profiles.

RESULTS

We show that CB-CD34+ are a uniform population of HSPC that reconstitute NOG mice more rapidly than FL-CD34+ due to faster B cell development. However, upon long-term engraftment, FL-NOG display increased numbers of neutrophils, dendritic cells and macrophages in multiple tissues. In addition to HSPC, FL-CD34+ isolates contain non-hematopoietic CD14+ endothelial cells that enhance the engraftment of the human immune system in FL-NOG mice. We demonstrate that these CD14+CD34+ cells are capable of reconstituting Factor VIII-producing liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC) in FL-NOG. However, CD14+CD34+ also contribute to hepatic sinusoidal dilatation and immune cell infiltration, which may culminate in a graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) pathology upon long-term engraftment. Finally, using an HLA-A mismatched CDX melanoma model, we show that FL-NOG, but not CB-NOG, can mount a graft-versus-tumor (GVT) response resulting in tumor rejection.

CONCLUSION

Our results highlight important phenotypical and functional differences between CB- and FL-NOG and reveal FL-NOG as a potential model to study hepatic sinusoidal dilatation and mechanisms of GVT.

Breast Cancer Immunity: It is TIME for the Next Chapter

Our ability to interrogate the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) at an ever-increasing granularity has uncovered critical determinants of disease progression. Not only do we now have a better understanding of the immune response in breast cancer, but it is becoming possible to leverage key mechanisms to effectively combat this disease. Almost every component of the immune system plays a role in enabling or inhibiting breast tumor growth. Building on early seminal work showing the involvement of T cells and macrophages in controlling breast cancer progression and metastasis, single-cell genomics and spatial proteomics approaches have recently expanded our view of the TIME. In this article, we provide a detailed description of the immune response against breast cancer and examine its heterogeneity in disease subtypes. We discuss preclinical models that enable dissecting the mechanisms responsible for tumor clearance or immune evasion and draw parallels and distinctions between human disease and murine counterparts. Last, as the cancer immunology field is moving toward the analysis of the TIME at the cellular and spatial levels, we highlight key studies that revealed previously unappreciated complexity in breast cancer using these technologies. Taken together, this article summarizes what is known in breast cancer immunology through the lens of translational research and identifies future directions to improve clinical outcomes.

Progress, implications, and challenges in using humanized immune system mice in CAR-T therapy-Application evaluation and improvement

In recent years, humanized immune system (HIS) mice have been gradually used as models for preclinical research in pharmacotherapies and cell therapies with major breakthroughs in tumor and other fields, better mimicking the human immune system and the tumor immune microenvironment, compared to traditional immunodeficient mice. To better promote the application of HIS mice in preclinical research, we selectively summarize the current prevalent and breakthrough research and evaluation of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) -T cells in various antiviral and antitumor treatments. By exploring its application in preclinical research, we find that it can better reflect the actual clinical patient condition, with the advantages of providing high-efficiency detection indicators, even for progressive research and development. We believe that it has better clinical patient simulation and promotion for the updated design of CAR-T cell therapy than directly transplanted immunodeficient mice. The characteristics of the main models are proposed to improve the use defects of the existing models by reducing the limitation of antihost reaction, combining multiple models, and unifying sources and organoid substitution. Strategy study of relapse and toxicity after CAR-T treatment also provides more possibilities for application and development.

Patient-Derived Xenograft Models in Cancer Research: Methodology, Applications, and Future Prospects

Patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) have emerged as a pivotal tool in translational cancer research, addressing limitations of traditional methods and facilitating improved therapeutic interventions. These models involve engrafting human primary malignant cells or tissues into immunodeficient mice, allowing for the investigation of cancer mechanobiology, validation of therapeutic targets, and preclinical assessment of treatment strategies. This chapter provides an overview of PDXs methodology and their applications in both basic cancer research and preclinical studies. Despite current limitations, ongoing advancements in humanized xenochimeric models and autologous immune cell engraftment hold promise for enhancing PDX model accuracy and relevance. As PDX models continue to refine and extend their applications, they are poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of translational cancer research.

Progress in building clinically relevant patient-derived tumor xenograft models for cancer research

Patient-derived tumor xenograft (PDX) models, a method involving the surgical extraction of tumor tissues from cancer patients and subsequent transplantation into immunodeficient mice, have emerged as a pivotal approach in translational research, particularly in advancing precision medicine. As the first stage of PDX development, the patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) models implant tumor tissue in mice in the corresponding anatomical locations of the patient. The PDOX models have several advantages, including high fidelity to the original tumor, heightened drug sensitivity, and an elevated rate of successful transplantation. However, the PDOX models present significant challenges, requiring advanced surgical techniques and resource-intensive imaging technologies, which limit its application. And then, the humanized mouse models, as well as the zebrafish models, were developed. Humanized mouse models contain a human immune environment resembling the tumor and immune system interplay. The humanized mouse models are a hot topic in PDX model research. Regarding zebrafish patient-derived tumor xenografts (zPDX) and patient-derived organoids (PDO) as promising models for studying cancer and drug discovery, zPDX models are used to transplant tumors into zebrafish as novel personalized medical animal models with the advantage of reducing patient waiting time. PDO models provide a cost-effective approach for drug testing that replicates the in vivo environment and preserves important tumor-related information for patients. The present review highlights the functional characteristics of each new phase of PDX and provides insights into the challenges and prospective developments in this rapidly evolving field.

Generation of Orthotopic Patient-Derived Xenografts in Humanized Mice for Evaluation of Emerging Targeted Therapies and Immunotherapy Combinations for Melanoma

Current methodologies for developing PDX in humanized mice in preclinical trials with immune-based therapies are limited by GVHD. Here, we compared two approaches for establishing PDX tumors in humanized mice: (1) PDX are first established in immune-deficient mice; or (2) PDX are initially established in humanized mice; then established PDX are transplanted to a larger cohort of humanized mice for preclinical trials. With the first approach, there was rapid wasting of PDX-bearing humanized mice with high levels of activated T cells in the circulation and organs, indicating immune-mediated toxicity. In contrast, with the second approach, toxicity was less of an issue and long-term human melanoma tumor growth and maintenance of human chimerism was achieved. Preclinical trials from the second approach revealed that rigosertib, but not anti-PD-1, increased CD8/CD4 T cell ratios in spleen and blood and inhibited PDX tumor growth. Resistance to anti-PD-1 was associated with PDX tumors established from tumors with limited CD8+ T cell content. Our findings suggest that it is essential to carefully manage immune editing by first establishing PDX tumors in humanized mice before expanding PDX tumors into a larger cohort of humanized mice to evaluate therapy response.

Patient-derived xenograft models in cancer therapy: technologies and applications

Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models, in which tumor tissues from patients are implanted into immunocompromised or humanized mice, have shown superiority in recapitulating the characteristics of cancer, such as the spatial structure of cancer and the intratumor heterogeneity of cancer. Moreover, PDX models retain the genomic features of patients across different stages, subtypes, and diversified treatment backgrounds. Optimized PDX engraftment procedures and modern technologies such as multi-omics and deep learning have enabled a more comprehensive depiction of the PDX molecular landscape and boosted the utilization of PDX models. These irreplaceable advantages make PDX models an ideal choice in cancer treatment studies, such as preclinical trials of novel drugs, validating novel drug combinations, screening drug-sensitive patients, and exploring drug resistance mechanisms. In this review, we gave an overview of the history of PDX models and the process of PDX model establishment. Subsequently, the review presents the strengths and weaknesses of PDX models and highlights the integration of novel technologies in PDX model research. Finally, we delineated the broad application of PDX models in chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and other novel therapies.

Humanized mouse models for immuno-oncology research

Immunotherapy has emerged as a promising treatment paradigm for many malignancies and is transforming the drug development landscape. Although immunotherapeutic agents have demonstrated clinical efficacy, they are associated with variable clinical responses, and substantial gaps remain in our understanding of their mechanisms of action and specific biomarkers of response. Currently, the number of preclinical models that faithfully recapitulate interactions between the human immune system and tumours and enable evaluation of human-specific immunotherapies in vivo is limited. Humanized mice, a term that refers to immunodeficient mice co-engrafted with human tumours and immune components, provide several advantages for immuno-oncology research. In this Review, we discuss the benefits and challenges of the currently available humanized mice, including specific interactions between engrafted human tumours and immune components, the development and survival of human innate immune populations in these mice, and approaches to study mice engrafted with matched patient tumours and immune cells. We highlight the latest advances in the generation of humanized mouse models, with the aim of providing a guide for their application to immuno-oncology studies with potential for clinical translation.

Critical evaluation of an autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cell-based humanized cancer model

The use of humanized mouse models for oncology is rapidly expanding. Autologous patient-derived systems are particularly attractive as they can model the human cancer's heterogeneity and immune microenvironment. In this study, we developed an autologous humanized mouse cancer model by engrafting NSG mice with patient-derived xenografts and infused matched peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). We first defined the time course of xenogeneic graft-versus-host-disease (xGVHD) and determined that only minimal xGVHD was observed for up to 8 weeks. Next, colorectal and pancreatic cancer patient-derived xenograft bearing NSG mice were infused with 5x106 human PBMCS for development of the humanized cancer models (iPDX). Early after infusion of human PBMCs, iPDX mice demonstrated engraftment of human CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the blood of both colorectal and pancreatic cancer patient-derived models that persisted for up to 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment, iPDX xenografts maintained the features of the primary human tumor including tumor grade and cell type. The iPDX tumors demonstrated infiltration of human CD3+ cells with high PD-1 expression although we observed significant intra and inter- model variability. In summary, the iPDX models reproduced key features of the corresponding human tumor. The observed variability and high PD-1 expression are important considerations that need to be addressed in order to develop a reproducible model system.

Mice with humanized immune system as novel models to study HIV-associated pulmonary hypertension

People living with HIV and who receive antiretroviral therapy have a significantly improved lifespan, compared to the early days without therapy. Unfortunately, persisting viral replication in the lungs sustains chronic inflammation, which may cause pulmonary vascular dysfunction and ultimate life-threatening Pulmonary Hypertension (PH). The mechanisms involved in the progression of HIV and PH remain unclear. The study of HIV-PH is limited due to the lack of tractable animal models that recapitulate infection and pathobiological aspects of PH. On one hand, mice with humanized immune systems (hu-mice) are highly relevant to HIV research but their suitability for HIV-PH research deserves investigation. On another hand, the Hypoxia-Sugen is a well-established model for experimental PH that combines hypoxia with the VEGF antagonist SU5416. To test the suitability of hu-mice, we combined HIV with either SU5416 or hypoxia. Using right heart catheterization, we found that combining HIV+SU5416 exacerbated PH. HIV infection increases human pro-inflammatory cytokines in the lungs, compared to uninfected mice. Histopathological examinations showed pulmonary vascular inflammation with arterial muscularization in HIV-PH. We also found an increase in endothelial-monocyte activating polypeptide II (EMAP II) when combining HIV+SU5416. Therefore, combinations of HIV with SU5416 or hypoxia recapitulate PH in hu-mice, creating well-suited models for infectious mechanistic pulmonary vascular research in small animals.

Use of lysates from pooled human mononuclear cells to activate CD3 T cells in humanized mice with low human cell engraftment efficiency

In regenerative medicine, humanized mice (hu-mice) are extremely valuable for verifying the cross talk between immune cells and therapeutic cells. Given the highly dynamic nature of the activities of immune cells, the in vitro platform does not allow for screening of their exact interactions with different therapeutic cells. By contrast, hu-mice have been widely applied for in vivo studies, especially those on immune rejection. However, the full reconstitution of lymphoid lineage cells in hu-mice remains to be realized. In this study, we investigated whether lysates from healthy donor-derived pooled mononuclear cells (MNCs) can promote the increase of lymphoid lineage cells in hu-mice. The pooled MNC lysate treatment of hu-mice possessing a low proportion of CD45 cells resulted in significant increases in CD3 cells and CD45 cells with the RO phenotype. The diverse epitopes from the pooled MNC lysates significantly induced the proportion of lymphoid lineage cells in the thymus and spleen after therapeutic cells with mismatched HLAs were co-injected into the hu-mice. These findings demonstrate the technical benefits of using pooled MNC lysates for reconstituting lymphoid lineage cells in hu-mice, providing a valuable in vivo platform for investigating the cross talk between lymphoid immune cells and therapeutic cells.

Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models, applications and challenges in cancer research

The establishing of the first cancer models created a new perspective on the identification and evaluation of new anti-cancer therapies in preclinical studies. Patient-derived xenograft models are created by tumor tissue engraftment. These models accurately represent the biology and heterogeneity of different cancers and recapitulate tumor microenvironment. These features have made it a reliable model along with the development of humanized models. Therefore, they are used in many studies, such as the development of anti-cancer drugs, co-clinical trials, personalized medicine, immunotherapy, and PDX biobanks. This review summarizes patient-derived xenograft models development procedures, drug development applications in various cancers, challenges and limitations.

A novel clinically relevant graft-versus-leukemia model in humanized mice

The prognosis for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) relapse post allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) is dismal. Novel effective treatment is urgently needed. Clinical benefit of alloSCT greatly relies on the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect. The mechanisms that mediate immune escape of leukemia (thus causing GVL failure) remain poorly understood. Studies of human GVL have been hindered by the lack of optimal clinically relevant models. Here, using our large, longitudinal clinical tissue bank that include AML cells and G-CSF mobilized donor hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), we successfully established a novel GVL model in humanized mice. Donor HSCs were injected into immune-deficient NOD-Cg-Prkdcscid IL2rgtm1Wjl /SzJ (NSG) mice to build humanized mice. Immune reconstitution in these mice recapitulated some clinical scenario in the patient who received the corresponding HSCs. Allogeneic but HLA partially matched patient-derived AML cells were successfully engrafted in these humanized mice. Importantly, we observed a significantly reduced (yet incomplete elimination of) leukemia growth in humanized mice compared with that in control NSG mice, demonstrating a functional (but defective) GVL effect. Thus, for the first time, we established a novel humanized mouse model that can be used for studying human GVL responses against human AML cells in vivo. This novel clinically relevant model provides a valuable platform for investigating the mechanisms of human GVL and development of effective leukemia treatments.

Patient-Derived Xenografts of High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Subtype as a Powerful Tool in Pre-Clinical Research

(1) Background. PDX models have become the preferred tool in research laboratories seeking to improve development and pre-clinical testing of new drugs. PDXs have been shown to capture the cellular and molecular characteristics of human tumors better than simpler cell line-based models. More recently, however, hints that PDXs may change their characteristics over time have begun to emerge, emphasizing the need for comprehensive analysis of PDX evolution. (2) Methods. We established a panel of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) PDXs and developed and validated a 300-SNP signature that can be successfully utilized to assess genetic drift across PDX passages and detect PDX contamination with lymphoproliferative tissues. In addition, we performed a detailed histological characterization and functional assessment of multiple PDX passages. (3) Results. Our data show that the PDXs remain largely stable throughout propagation, with marginal genetic drift at the time of PDX initiation and adaptation to mouse host. Importantly, our PDX lines retained the major histological characteristics of the original patients' tumors even after multiple passages in mice, demonstrating a strong concordance with the clinical responses of their corresponding patients. (4) Conclusions. Our data underline the value of defined HGSOC PDXs as a pre-clinical tumor model.

Development of a Bioluminescent Human Osteosarcoma Model in Humanized NSG Mice: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND/AIM

Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer, but current therapeutic interventions remain largely insufficient. The development of new treatment strategies is needed, and moreover, optimal rodent models are necessary for testing the efficacy of new treatment modalities of osteosarcoma. Humanized mice carry human hematopoietic and immune systems, and are considered an ideal tool to study human diseases including cancer immunology. Herein, we performed a preliminary study toward developing an in vivo bioluminescent osteosarcoma model using humanized immunodeficient (NSG) mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To establish the xenograft and orthotopic mouse model, NSG mice engrafted with human CD34⁺ hematopoietic stem cells were injected with luciferase-expressing KHOS/NP cells at two different time points. Bioluminescence images were obtained to monitor in vivo tumor growth and metastasis. Influence of the degree of human cell engraftment on tumor growth and metastatic behavior was analyzed and compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

KHOS/NP-luc cells injected in humanized NSG mice formed macroscopic tumors. The percentage of human CD45+ cells in these models was similar, but the percentage of human CD45+CD3+ and their subset was higher in the late-injection group compared to that of the early-injection group. The rate of KHOS/NP tumor growth was higher in the early-injection group than in the late-injection group. In the present study, human hematopoietic cell engraftment was not influenced by KHOS/NP cell injection, but KHOS/NP osteosarcoma showed more aggressive behavior in the early-injection group than that in the late-injection group, forming larger tumor volumes and earlier metastases.

CONCLUSION

The results indicated that tumor growth and progression in humanized NSG mice may have been influenced by higher levels of human cell engraftment, especially T cells. Although there exist some limitations to our study, our preliminary results can provide the basis for the development of a humanized osteosarcoma mouse model.

Innate Immune Reconstitution in Humanized Bone Marrow-Liver-Thymus (HuBLT) Mice Governs Adaptive Cellular Immune Function and Responses to HIV-1 Infection

Humanized bone marrow-liver-thymus (HuBLT) mice are a revolutionary small-animal model that has facilitated the study of human immune function and human-restricted pathogens, including human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). These mice recapitulate many aspects of acute and chronic HIV-1 infection, but exhibit weak and variable T-cell responses when challenged with HIV-1, hindering our ability to confidently detect HIV-1-specific responses or vaccine effects. To identify the cause of this, we comprehensively analyzed T-cell development, diversity, and function in HuBLT mice. We found that virtually all HuBLT were well-reconstituted with T cells and had intact TCRβ sequence diversity, thymic development, and differentiation to memory and effector cells. However, there was poor CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responsiveness to physiologic stimuli and decreased TH1 polarization that correlated with deficient reconstitution of innate immune cells, in particular monocytes. HIV-1 infection of HuBLT mice showed that mice with higher monocyte reconstitution exhibited greater CD8+ T cells responses and HIV-1 viral evolution within predicted HLA-restricted epitopes. Thus, T-cell responses to immune challenges are blunted in HuBLT mice due to a deficiency of innate immune cells, and future efforts to improve the model for HIV-1 immune response and vaccine studies need to be aimed at restoring innate immune reconstitution.

Role of the thymus in spontaneous development of a multi-organ autoimmune disease in human immune system mice

We evaluated the role of the thymus in development of multi-organ autoimmunity in human immune system (HIS) mice. T cells were essential for disease development and the same T cell clones with varying phenotypes infiltrated multiple tissues. De novo-generated hematopoietic stem cell (HSC)-derived T cells were the major disease drivers, though thymocytes pre-existing in grafted human thymi contributed if not first depleted. HIS mice with a native mouse thymus developed disease earlier than thymectomized mice with a thymocyte-depleted human thymus graft. Defective structure in the native mouse thymus was associated with impaired negative selection of thymocytes expressing a transgenic TCR recognizing a self-antigen. Disease developed without direct recognition of antigens on recipient mouse MHC. While human thymus grafts had normal structure and negative selection, failure to tolerize human T cells recognizing mouse antigens presented on HLA molecules may explain eventual disease development. These new insights have implications for human autoimmunity and suggest methods of avoiding autoimmunity in next-generation HIS mice.

Genetic in vivo engineering of human T lymphocytes in mouse models

Receptor targeting of vector particles is a key technology to enable cell type-specific in vivo gene delivery. For example, T cells in humanized mouse models can be modified by lentiviral vectors (LVs) targeted to human T-cell markers to enable them to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). Here, we provide detailed protocols for the generation of CD4- and CD8-targeted LVs (which takes ~9 d in total). We also describe how to humanize immunodeficient mice with hematopoietic stem cells (which takes 12-16 weeks) and precondition (over 5 d) and administer the vector stocks. Conversion of the targeted cell type is monitored by PCR and flow cytometry of blood samples. A few weeks after administration, ~10% of the targeted T-cell subtype can be expected to have converted to CAR T cells. By closely following the protocol, sufficient vector stock for the genetic manipulation of 10-15 humanized mice is obtained. We also discuss how the protocol can be easily adapted to use LVs targeted to other types of receptors and/or for delivery of other genes of interest.

Modeling human tumor-immune environments in vivo for the preclinical assessment of immunotherapies

Despite the significant contributions of immunocompetent mouse models to the development and assessment of cancer immunotherapies, they inadequately represent the genetic and biological complexity of corresponding human cancers. Immunocompromised mice reconstituted with a human immune system (HIS) and engrafted with patient-derived tumor xenografts are a promising novel preclinical model for the study of human tumor-immune interactions. Whilst overcoming limitations of immunocompetent models, HIS-tumor models often rely on reconstitution with allogeneic immune cells, making it difficult to distinguish between anti-tumor and alloantigen responses. Models that comprise of autologous human tumor and human immune cells provide a platform that is more representative of the patient immune-tumor interaction. However, limited access to autologous tissues, short experimental windows, and poor retention of tumor microenvironment and tumor infiltrating lymphocyte components are major challenges affecting the establishment and application of autologous models. This review outlines existing preclinical murine models for the study of immuno-oncology, and highlights innovations that can be applied to improve the feasibility and efficacy of autologous models.

Humanized Mouse Models to Evaluate Cancer Immunotherapeutics

Immunotherapy is at the forefront of cancer treatment. The advent of numerous novel approaches to cancer immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint antibodies, adoptive transfer of CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T cells and TCR (T cell receptor) T cells, NK (natural killer) cells, T cell engagers, oncolytic viruses, and vaccines, is revolutionizing the treatment for different tumor types. Some are already in the clinic, and many others are underway. However, not all patients respond, resistance develops, and as available therapies multiply there is a need to further understand how they work, how to prioritize their clinical evaluation, and how to combine them. For this, animal models have been highly instrumental, and humanized mice models (i.e., immunodeficient mice engrafted with human immune and cancer cells) represent a step forward, although they have several limitations. Here, we review the different humanized models available today, the approaches to overcome their flaws, their use for the evaluation of cancer immunotherapies, and their anticipated evolution as tools to help personalized clinical decision-making.

Current methods in translational cancer research

Recent developments in pre-clinical screening tools, that more reliably predict the clinical effects and adverse events of candidate therapeutic agents, has ushered in a new era of drug development and screening. However, given the rapid pace with which these models have emerged, the individual merits of these translational research tools warrant careful evaluation in order to furnish clinical researchers with appropriate information to conduct pre-clinical screening in an accelerated and rational manner. This review assesses the predictive utility of both well-established and emerging pre-clinical methods in terms of their suitability as a screening platform for treatment response, ability to represent pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic drug properties, and lastly debates the translational limitations and benefits of these models. To this end, we will describe the current literature on cell culture, organoids, in vivo mouse models, and in silico computational approaches. Particular focus will be devoted to discussing gaps and unmet needs in the literature as well as current advancements and innovations achieved in the field, such as co-clinical trials and future avenues for refinement.

Building the Next Generation of Humanized Hemato-Lymphoid System Mice

Since the late 1980s, mice have been repopulated with human hematopoietic cells to study the fundamental biology of human hematopoiesis and immunity, as well as a broad range of human diseases in vivo. Multiple mouse recipient strains have been developed and protocols optimized to efficiently generate these “humanized” mice. Here, we review three guiding principles that have been applied to the development of the currently available models: (1) establishing tolerance of the mouse host for the human graft; (2) opening hematopoietic niches so that they can be occupied by human cells; and (3) providing necessary support for human hematopoiesis. We then discuss four remaining challenges: (1) human hematopoietic lineages that poorly develop in mice; (2) limited antigen-specific adaptive immunity; (3) absent tolerance of the human immune system for its mouse host; and (4) sub-functional interactions between human immune effectors and target mouse tissues. While major advances are still needed, the current models can already be used to answer specific, clinically-relevant questions and hopefully inform the development of new, life-saving therapies.

Advances in Transgenic Mouse Models to Study Infections by Human Pathogenic Viruses

Medical research is changing into direction of precision therapy, thus, sophisticated preclinical models are urgently needed. In human pathogenic virus research, the major technical hurdle is not only to translate discoveries from animals to treatments of humans, but also to overcome the problem of interspecies differences with regard to productive infections and comparable disease development. Transgenic mice provide a basis for research of disease pathogenesis after infection with human-specific viruses. Today, humanized mice can be found at the very heart of this forefront of medical research allowing for recapitulation of disease pathogenesis and drug mechanisms in humans. This review discusses progress in the development and use of transgenic mice for the study of virus-induced human diseases towards identification of new drug innovations to treat and control human pathogenic infectious diseases.

CD4+CD8+ T-Lymphocytes in Xenogeneic and Human Graft-versus-Host Disease

Mechanisms driving acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) onset in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) are still poorly understood. To provide a detailed characterization of tissue-infiltrating T lymphocytes (TL) and search for eventual site-specific specificities, we developed a xenogeneic model of aGVHD in immunodeficient mice. Phenotypic characterization of xenoreactive T lymphocytes (TL) in diseased mice disclosed a massive infiltration of GVHD target organs by an original CD4⁺CD8⁺ TL subset. Immunophenotypic and transcriptional profiling shows that CD4⁺CD8⁺ TL comprise a major PD1⁺CD62L^−/+ transitional memory subset (>60%) characterized by low level expression of cytotoxicity-related transcripts. CD4⁺CD8⁺ TL produce high IL-10 and IL-13 levels, and low IL-2 and IFN-γ, suggestive of regulatory function. In vivo tracking of genetically labeled CD4⁺ or CD8⁺ TL subsequently found that CD4⁺CD8⁺ TL mainly originate from chronically activated cytotoxic TL (CTL). On the other hand, phenotypic profiling of CD3⁺ TL from blood, duodenum or rectal mucosa in a cohort of allo-HSCT patients failed to disclose abnormal expansion of CD4⁺CD8⁺ TL independent of aGVHD development. Collectively, our results show that acquisition of surface CD4 by xenoreactive CD8⁺ CTL is associated with functional diversion toward a regulatory phenotype, but rule out a central role of this subset in the pathogenesis of aGVHD in allo-HSCT patients.

The Development of Next-generation PBMC Humanized Mice for Preclinical Investigation of Cancer Immunotherapeutic Agents

Investigation of the efficacy and mechanisms of human immuno-oncology agents has been hampered due to species-specific differences when utilizing preclinical mouse models. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) humanized mice provide a platform for investigating the modulation of the human immune-mediated antitumor response while circumventing the limitations of syngeneic model systems. Use of humanized mice has been stymied by model-specific limitations, some of which include the development of graft versus host disease, technical difficulty and cost associated with each humanized animal, and insufficient engraftment of some human immune subsets. Recent advances have addressed many of these limitations from which have emerged humanized models that are more clinically relevant. This review characterizes the expanded usage, advantages and limitations of humanized mice and provides insights into the development of the next generation of murine humanized models to further inform clinical applications of cancer immunotherapeutic agents.

Development and function of human dendritic cells in humanized mice models

Dendritic cells (DCs) are sentinel cells of the immune system arising from hematopoietic stem cells. DCs play a key role in the regulation of both adaptive and innate lymphocyte responses. As such, experimental models enabling a thorough analysis of human DCs development and function are needed. Humanized mice models (termed collectively as HIS mice, or human immune system mice models) provide unique opportunities to model human hematopoiesis and tackle the function of human immune cell types in vivo. Here, we review experimental approaches enabling to recapitulate the ontogeny of DC subsets in HIS mice and discuss studies addressing the biology of human DC subsets implementing HIS mice models.

CD133 mRNA-Loaded Dendritic Cell Vaccination Abrogates Glioma Stem Cell Propagation in Humanized Glioblastoma Mouse Model

Cancer stem cells are initiating cells of cancer and propagate its growth through self-renewal and differentiation of its daughter cells. CD133 is a cell surface antigen that is present on glioma stem cells and has been used to prospectively isolate glioma stem cells. We hypothesized that a major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-independent and long-lasting immune response against CD133 could be generated by transfecting CD133 mRNA into dendritic cells and vaccinating animals with experimental gliomas. To test this hypothesis, we developed a novel humanized mouse model using CD34-positive hematopoietic stem cells. We confirmed the robust simultaneous activation of CD8- and CD4-positive T cells by dendritic cell vaccination with modified CD133 mRNA leading to a potent and long-lived immune response, with subsequent abrogation of CD133-positive glioma stem cell propagation and tumor growth. This study for the first time demonstrates in both a humanized mouse model and in a syngeneic mouse model of glioblastoma that targeting a glioma stem cell-associated antigen is an effective strategy to target and kill glioma stem cells. This novel and simple humanized mouse model for immunotherapy is a significant advance in our ability to test human-specific immunotherapies for glioblastoma.

The CD4+ T Cell Response to Human Cytomegalovirus in Healthy and Immunocompromised People

While CD8+ T cells specific for human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) have been extensively studied in both healthy HCMV seropositive carriers and patients undergoing immunosuppression, studies on the CD4+ T cell response to HCMV had lagged behind. However, over the last few years there has been a significant advance in our understanding of the importance and contribution that CMV-specific CD4+ T cells make, not only to anti-viral immunity but also in the potential maintenance of latently infected cells. During primary infection with HCMV in adults, CD4+ T cells are important for the resolution of symptomatic disease, while persistent shedding of HCMV into urine and saliva is associated with a lack of HCMV specific CD4+ T cell response in young children. In immunosuppressed solid organ transplant recipients, a delayed appearance of HCMV-specific CD4+ T cells is associated with prolonged viremia and more severe clinical disease, while in haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients, it has been suggested that HCMV-specific CD4+ T cells are required for HCMV-specific CD8+ T cells to exert their anti-viral effects. In addition, adoptive T-cell immunotherapy in transplant patients has shown that the presence of HCMV-specific CD4+ T cells is required for the maintenance of HCMV-specific CD8+ T cells. HCMV is a paradigm for immune evasion. The presence of viral genes that down-regulate MHC class II molecules and the expression of viral IL-10 both limit antigen presentation to CD4+ T cells, underlining the important role that this T cell subset has in antiviral immunity. This review will discuss the antigen specificity, effector function, phenotype and direct anti-viral properties of HCMV specific CD4+ T cells, as well as reviewing our understanding of the importance of this T cell subset in primary infection and long-term carriage in healthy individuals. In addition, their role and importance in congenital HCMV infection and during immunosuppression in both solid organ and haemopoietic stem cell transplantation is considered.

The Use of a Humanized NSG-β2m-/- Model for Investigation of Immune and Anti-tumor Effects Mediated by the Bifunctional Immunotherapeutic Bintrafusp Alfa

The lack of serial biopsies in patients with a range of carcinomas has been one obstacle in our understanding of the mechanism of action of immuno-oncology agents as well as the elucidation of mechanisms of resistance to these novel therapeutics. While much information can be obtained from studies conducted with syngeneic mouse models, these models have limitations, including that both tumor and immune cells being targeted are murine and that many of the immuno-oncology agents being evaluated are human proteins, and thus multiple administrations are hampered by host xenogeneic responses. Some of these limitations are being overcome by the use of humanized mouse models where human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) are engrafted into immunosuppressed mouse strains. Bintrafusp alfa (M7824) is an innovative first-in-class bifunctional fusion protein composed of the extracellular domain of the TGF-βRII to function as a TGF-β "trap" fused to a human IgG1 antibody blocking PD-L1. A phase I clinical trial of bintrafusp alfa showed promising anti-tumor efficacy in heavily pretreated advanced solid tumors, and multiple clinical studies are currently ongoing. There is still much to learn regarding the mechanism of action of bintrafusp alfa, including its effects on both human immune cells in the periphery and in the tumor microenvironment (TME), and any temporal effects upon multiple administrations. By using the NSG-β2m-/- mouse strain humanized with PBMC, we demonstrate here for the first time: (a) the effects of bintrafusp alfa administration on human immune cells in the periphery vs. the TME using three different human xenograft models; (b) temporal effects upon multiple administrations of bintrafusp alfa; (c) phenotypic changes induced in the TME, and (d) variations observed in the use of multiple different PBMC donors. Also discussed are the similarities and differences in the data thus far obtained employing murine syngeneic models, from clinical trials, and in the use of this humanized mouse model. The results described here may guide the future use of this agent or similar immunotherapy agents as monotherapies or in combination therapy studies.

Moving beyond the mousetrap: current and emerging humanized mouse and rat models for investigating prevention and cure strategies against HIV infection and associated pathologies

The development of safe and effective combination antiretroviral therapies for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection over the past several decades has significantly reduced HIV-associated morbidity and mortality. Additionally, antiretroviral drugs have provided an effective means of protection against HIV transmission. Despite these advances, significant limitations exist; namely, the inability to eliminate HIV reservoirs, the inability to reverse lymphoid tissues damage, and the lack of an effective vaccine for preventing HIV transmission. Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of therapeutics and vaccines for eliminating HIV reservoirs and preventing HIV transmission requires robust in vivo models. Since HIV is a human-specific pathogen, that targets hematopoietic lineage cells and lymphoid tissues, in vivo animal models for HIV-host interactions require incorporation of human hematopoietic lineage cells and lymphoid tissues. In this review, we will discuss the construction of mouse models with human lymphoid tissues and/or hematopoietic lineage cells, termed, human immune system (HIS)-humanized mice. These HIS-humanized mouse models can support the development of functional human innate and adaptive immune cells, along with primary (thymus) and secondary (spleen) lymphoid tissues. We will discuss applications of HIS-humanized mouse models in evaluating the safety and efficacy of therapeutics against HIV reservoirs and associated immunopathology, and delineate the human immune response elicited by candidate HIV vaccines. In addition to focusing on how these HIS-humanized mouse models have already furthered our understanding of HIV and contributed to HIV therapeutics development, we discuss how emerging HIS-humanized rat models could address the limitations of HIS-mouse models.

Human Cytomegalovirus Infection Suppresses CD34+ Progenitor Cell Engraftment in Humanized Mice

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is a serious complication in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients due to virus-induced myelosuppression and impairment of stem cell engraftment. Despite the clear clinical link between myelosuppression and HCMV infection, little is known about the mechanism(s) by which the virus inhibits normal hematopoiesis because of the strict species specificity and the lack of surrogate animal models. In this study, we developed a novel humanized mouse model system that recapitulates the HCMV-mediated engraftment failure after hematopoietic cell transplantation. We observed significant alterations in the hematopoietic populations in peripheral lymphoid tissues following engraftment of a subset of HCMV⁺ CD34⁺ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) within the transplant, suggesting that a small proportion of HCMV-infected CD34⁺ HPCs can profoundly affect HPC differentiation in the bone marrow microenvironment. This model will be instrumental to gain insight into the fundamental mechanisms of HCMV myelosuppression after HSCT and provides a platform to assess novel treatment strategies.

Humanized Mice for Live-Attenuated Vaccine Research: From Unmet Potential to New Promises

Live-attenuated vaccines (LAV) represent one of the most important medical innovations in human history. In the past three centuries, LAV have saved hundreds of millions of lives, and will continue to do so for many decades to come. Interestingly, the most successful LAVs, such as the smallpox vaccine, the measles vaccine, and the yellow fever vaccine, have been isolated and/or developed in a purely empirical manner without any understanding of the immunological mechanisms they trigger. Today, the mechanisms governing potent LAV immunogenicity and long-term induced protective immunity continue to be elusive, and therefore hamper the rational design of innovative vaccine strategies. A serious roadblock to understanding LAV-induced immunity has been the lack of suitable and cost-effective animal models that can accurately mimic human immune responses. In the last two decades, human-immune system mice (HIS mice), i.e., mice engrafted with components of the human immune system, have been instrumental in investigating the life-cycle and immune responses to multiple human-tropic pathogens. However, their use in LAV research has remained limited. Here, we discuss the strong potential of LAVs as tools to enhance our understanding of human immunity and review the past, current and future contributions of HIS mice to this endeavor.

The Establishment of an In Vivo HIV-1 Infection Model in Humanized B-NSG Mice

Suitable animal models for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection are important for elucidating viral pathogenesis and evaluating antiviral strategies in vivo. The B-NSG (NOD-PrkdcscidIl2rgtm1/Bcge) mice that have severe immune defect phenotype are examined for the suitability of such a model in this study. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were engrafted into B-NSG mice via mouse tail vein injection, and the repopulated human T-lymphocytes were observed at as early as 3-weeks post-transplantation in mouse peripheral blood and several tissues. The humanized mice could be infected by HIV-1, and the infection recapitulated features of T-lymphocyte dynamic observed in HIV-1 infected humans, meanwhile the administration of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) suppressed viral replication and restored T lymphocyte abnormalities. The establishment of HIV-1 infected humanized B-NSG mice not only provides a model to study virus and T cell interplays, but also can be a useful tool to evaluate antiviral strategies.

Recent Advancements and Applications of Human Immune System Mice in Preclinical Immuno-Oncology

Significant advances in immunotherapies have resulted in the increasing need of predictive preclinical models to improve immunotherapeutic drug development, treatment combination, and to prevent or minimize toxicity in clinical trials. Immunodeficient mice reconstituted with human immune system (HIS), termed humanized mice or HIS mice, permit detailed analysis of human immune biology, development, and function. Although this model constitutes a great translational model, some aspects need to be improved as the incomplete engraftment of immune cells, graft versus host disease and the lack of human cytokines and growth factors. In this review, we discuss current HIS platforms, their pathology, and recent advances in their development to improve the quality of human immune cell reconstitution. We also highlight new technologies that can be used to better understand these models and how improved characterization is needed for their application in immuno-oncology safety, efficacy, and new modalities therapy development.

miRNA142-3p targets Tet2 and impairs Treg differentiation and stability in models of type 1 diabetes

In type 1 diabetes, the appearance of islet autoantibodies indicates the onset of islet autoimmunity, often many years before clinical symptoms arise. While T cells play a major role in the destruction of pancreatic beta cells, molecular underpinnings promoting aberrant T cell activation remain poorly understood. Here, we show that during islet autoimmunity an miR142-3p/Tet2/Foxp3 axis interferes with the efficient induction of regulatory T (Treg) cells, resulting in impaired Treg stability in mouse and human. Specifically, we demonstrate that miR142-3p is induced in islet autoimmunity and that its inhibition enhances Treg induction and stability, leading to reduced islet autoimmunity in non-obese diabetic mice. Using various cellular and molecular approaches we identify Tet2 as a direct target of miR142-3p, thereby linking high miR142-3p levels to epigenetic remodeling in Tregs. These findings offer a mechanistic model where during islet autoimmunity miR142-3p/Tet2-mediated Treg instability contributes to autoimmune activation and progression.

Immunization of BLT Humanized Mice Redirects T Cell Responses to Gag and Reduces Acute HIV-1 Viremia

BLT (bone marrow-liver-thymus) humanized mice, which reconstitute a functional human immune system, develop prototypic human virus-specific CD8⁺ T cell responses following infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). We explored the utility of the BLT model for HIV-1 vaccine development by immunizing BLT mice against the conserved viral Gag protein, utilizing a rapid prime-boost protocol of poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid microparticles and a replication-defective herpes simplex virus (HSV) recombinant vector. After HIV-1 challenge, the mice developed broad, proteome-wide gamma interferon-positive (IFN-γ⁺) T cell responses against HIV-1 that reached magnitudes equivalent to what is observed in HIV-1-infected individuals. The functionality of these responses was underscored by the consistent emergence of escape mutations in multiple CD8⁺ T cell epitopes during the course of infection. Although prechallenge vaccine-induced responses were largely undetectable, the Gag immunization increased both the magnitude and the kinetics of anamnestic Gag-specific T cell responses following HIV-1 infection, and the magnitude of these postchallenge Gag-specific responses was inversely correlated with acute HIV-1 viremia. Indeed, Gag immunization was associated with a modest but significant 0.5-log reduction in HIV-1 viral load when analyzed across four experimental groups of BLT mice. Notably, the HSV vector induced elevated plasma concentrations of polarizing cytokines and chemotactic factors, including interleukin-12p70 (IL-12p70) and MIP-1α, which were positively correlated with the magnitude of Gag-specific responses. Overall, these results support the ability of BLT mice to recapitulate human pathogen-specific T cell responses and to respond to immunization; however, additional improvements to the model are required to develop a robust system for testing HIV-1 vaccine efficacy.IMPORTANCE Advances in the development of humanized mice have raised the possibility of a small-animal model for preclinical testing of an HIV-1 vaccine. Here, we describe the capacity of BLT humanized mice to mount broadly directed HIV-1-specific human T cell responses that are functionally active, as indicated by the rapid emergence of viral escape mutations. Although immunization of BLT mice with the conserved viral Gag protein did not result in detectable prechallenge responses, it did increase the magnitude and kinetics of postchallenge Gag-specific T cell responses, which was associated with a modest but significant reduction in acute HIV-1 viremia. Additionally, the BLT model revealed immunization-associated increases in the plasma concentrations of immunomodulatory cytokines and chemokines that correlated with more robust T cell responses. These data support the potential utility of the BLT humanized mouse for HIV-1 vaccine development but suggest that additional improvements to the model are warranted.

T Lymphocyte Development and Activation in Humanized Mouse Model

Humanized mice, containing engrafted human cells and tissues, are emerging as an important in vivo platform for studying human diseases. Since the development of Nod scid gamma (NSG) mice bearing mutations in the IL-2 receptor gamma chain, many investigators have used NSG mice engrafted with human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to generate functional human immune systems in vivo, results in high efficacy of human cell engraftment. The development of NSG mice has allowed significant advances to be made in studies on several human diseases, including cancer and graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD), and in regenerative medicine. Based on the human HSC transplantation, organ transplantation including thymus and liver in the renal capsule has been performed. Also, immune reconstruction of cells, of the lymphoid as well as myeloid lineages, has been partly accomplished. However, crosstalk between pluripotent stem cell derived therapeutic cells with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) mis/matched types and immune CD3 T cells have not been fully addressed. To overcome this hurdle, human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, not mouse MHC molecules, are required to generate functional T cells in a humanized mouse model. Here, we briefly summarize characteristics of the humanized mouse model, focusing on development of CD3 T cells with MHC molecules. We also highlight the necessity of the humanized mouse model for the treatment of various human diseases.

Humanized mouse models of immunological diseases and precision medicine

With the increase in knowledge resulting from the sequencing of the human genome, the genetic basis for the underlying differences in individuals, their diseases, and how they respond to therapies is starting to be understood. This has formed the foundation for the era of precision medicine in many human diseases that is beginning to be implemented in the clinic, particularly in cancer. However, preclinical testing of therapeutic approaches based on individual biology will need to be validated in animal models prior to translation into patients. Although animal models, particularly murine models, have provided significant information on the basic biology underlying immune responses in various diseases and the response to therapy, murine and human immune systems differ markedly. These fundamental differences may be the underlying reason why many of the positive therapeutic responses observed in mice have not translated directly into the clinic. There is a critical need for preclinical animal models in which human immune responses can be investigated. For this, many investigators are using humanized mice, i.e., immunodeficient mice engrafted with functional human cells, tissues, and immune systems. We will briefly review the history of humanized mice, the remaining limitations, approaches to overcome them and how humanized mouse models are being used as a preclinical bridge in precision medicine for evaluation of human therapies prior to their implementation in the clinic.

Altered donor P2X7 activity in human leukocytes correlates with P2RX7 genotype but does not affect the development of graft-versus-host disease in humanised mice

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a life-threatening consequence of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, a curative therapy for haematological malignancies. The ATP-gated P2X7 receptor channel is implicated in the development of GVHD. P2X7 activity on human leukocytes can be influenced by gain-of-function (GOF) and loss-of-function (LOF) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the P2RX7 gene. In this study, the P2RX7 gene was sequenced in 25 human donors and the P2X7 activity on subsets of peripheral blood T cells, natural killer (NK) cells and monocytes was measured using an ATP-induced dye uptake assay. GOF and LOF SNPs representing 10 of the 17 known P2RX7 haplotypes were identified, and correlated with P2X7 activity on all leukocyte subsets investigated. Notably, invariant (i) NK T cells displayed the highest P2X7 activity amongst all cell types studied. To determine if donor P2X7 activity influenced the development of GVHD, immunodeficient NOD-SCID-IL2Rγ^null (NSG) mice were injected with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from donors of either GOF (hP2X7^GOF mice) or LOF (hP2X7^LOF mice) P2RX7 genotype. Both hP2X7^GOF and hP2X7^LOF mice demonstrated similar human leukocyte engraftment, and showed comparable weight loss, GVHD clinical score and overall survival. Donor P2X7 activity did not affect human leukocyte infiltration or GVHD-mediated tissue damage, or the relative expression of human P2X7 or human interferon-γ (hIFNγ) in tissues. Finally, hP2X7^GOF and hP2X7^LOF mice demonstrated similar concentrations of serum hIFNγ. This study demonstrates that P2X7 activity correlates with donor P2RX7 genotype on human leukocyte subsets important in GVHD development, but does not affect GVHD development in a humanised mouse model of this disease.

Lack of acute xenogeneic graft- versus-host disease, but retention of T-cell function following engraftment of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in NSG mice deficient in MHC class I and II expression

Immunodeficient mice engrafted with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) support preclinical studies of human pathogens, allograft rejection, and human T-cell function. However, a major limitation of PBMC engraftment is development of acute xenogeneic graft- versus-host disease (GVHD) due to human T-cell recognition of murine major histocompatibility complex (MHC). To address this, we created 2 NOD- scid IL-2 receptor subunit γ ( IL2rg) null (NSG) strains that lack murine MHC class I and II [NSG-β-2-microglobulin ( B2M) null ( IA IE)null and NSG -( Kb Db) null ( IAnull)]. We observed rapid human IgG clearance in NSG- B2Mnull ( IA IE) null mice whereas clearance in NSG -( Kb Db) null ( IAnull) mice and NSG mice was comparable. Injection of human PBMCs into both strains enabled long-term engraftment of human CD4+ and CD8+ T cells without acute GVHD. Engrafted human T-cell function was documented by rejection of human islet allografts. Administration of human IL-2 to NSG -( Kb Db) null ( IAnull) mice via adeno-associated virus vector increased human CD45+ cell engraftment, including an increase in human regulatory T cells. However, high IL-2 levels also induced the development of GVHD. These data document that NSG mice deficient in murine MHC support studies of human immunity in the absence of acute GVHD and enable evaluation of human antibody therapeutics targeting human T cells.-Brehm, M. A., Kenney, L. L., Wiles, M. V., Low, B. E., Tisch, R. M., Burzenski, L., Mueller, C., Greiner, D. L., Shultz, L. D. Lack of acute xenogeneic graft- versus-host disease, but retention of T-cell function following engraftment of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in NSG mice deficient in MHC class I and II expression.

Human Anti-HIV-1 gp120 Monoclonal Antibodies with Neutralizing Activity Cloned from Humanized Mice Infected with HIV-1

Broadly neutralizing, anti-HIV-1 gp120 mAbs have been isolated from infected individuals, and there is considerable interest in developing these reagents for Ab-based immunoprophylaxis and treatment. As a means to identify potentially new anti-HIV Abs, we exploited humanized NOD-scid IL2rγnull mice systemically infected with HIV-1 to generate a wide variety of Ag-specific human mAbs. The Abs were encoded by a diverse range of variable gene families and Ig classes, including IgA, and several showed significant levels of somatic mutation. Moreover, the isolated Abs not only bound target Ags with similar affinity as broadly neutralizing Abs, they also demonstrated neutralizing ability against multiple HIV-1 clades. The use of humanized mice will allow us to use our knowledge of HIV-1 gp120 structure and function, and the immune response targeting this protein, to generate native human prophylactic Abs to reduce the infection and spread of HIV-1.

Induction and Therapeutic Targeting of Human NPM1c+ Myeloid Leukemia in the Presence of Autologous Immune System in Mice

Development of targeted cancer therapy requires a thorough understanding of mechanisms of tumorigenesis as well as mechanisms of action of therapeutics. This is challenging because by the time patients are diagnosed with cancer, early events of tumorigenesis have already taken place. Similarly, development of cancer immunotherapies is hampered by a lack of appropriate small animal models with autologous human tumor and immune system. In this article, we report the development of a mouse model of human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with autologous immune system for studying early events of human leukemogenesis and testing the efficacy of immunotherapeutics. To develop such a model, human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPC) are transduced with lentiviruses expressing a mutated form of nucleophosmin (NPM1), referred to as NPM1c. Following engraftment into immunodeficient mice, transduced HSPCs give rise to human myeloid leukemia, whereas untransduced HSPCs give rise to human immune cells in the same mice. The de novo AML, with CD123⁺ leukemic stem or initiating cells (LSC), resembles NPM1c⁺ AML from patients. Transcriptional analysis of LSC and leukemic cells confirms similarity of the de novo leukemia generated in mice with patient leukemia and suggests Myc as a co-operating factor in NPM1c-driven leukemogenesis. We show that a bispecific conjugate that binds both CD3 and CD123 eliminates CD123⁺ LSCs in a T cell-dependent manner both in vivo and in vitro. These results demonstrate the utility of the NPM1c⁺ AML model with an autologous immune system for studying early events of human leukemogenesis and for evaluating efficacy and mechanism of immunotherapeutics.

Enhanced Safety and Efficacy of Oncolytic VSV Therapy by Combination with T Cell Receptor Transgenic T Cells as Carriers

Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) represents an attractive oncolytic virotherapy platform because of its potent tumor cell-killing and immune-stimulating properties; yet the clinical translation of VSV faces numerous challenges, such as inefficient systemic delivery and severe side effects such as neurotoxicity. We hypothesized that we could overcome these limitations and simultaneously enhance the therapy, by combining VSV with adoptively transferred T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic T cells as carrier cells. We show that CD8⁺ T central memory cells (CD8⁺ T cm) can be efficiently loaded with VSV, they support intracellular virus production, and they can efficiently transfer VSV to tumor cells without compromising their own viability or antitumor reactivity. Loading VSV onto CD8⁺ T cm not only improves the safety compared with systemic administration of naked virus, but this approach also allows for an effective delivery of virus to its tumor target, resulting in an effective combination therapy in NSG mice bearing subcutaneous human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) tumors. We conclude that the combination of potent tumor debulking provided by the oncolytic VSV with the added effector functions afforded by the cytotoxic immune carrier cells results in a potent and safer immunotherapeutic, which can be further developed for clinical translation.

Expression of glucocorticoid receptor shows negative correlation with human B-cell engraftment in PBMC-transplanted NOGhIL-4-Tg mice

The humanized mouse system is a promising tool for analyzing human immune responses in vivo. Recently, we developed a new humanized mouse system using the severely immunodeficient NOD/Shi-scid-IL2rγ^null (NOG)-hIL-4-Tg mouse, which enabled us to evaluate the human humoral immune response after peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) transplantation. However, the mechanism by which hIL-4 enhances antigen-specific IgG production in these mice is not clear. In this study, we analyzed the relationship between human lymphocyte subsets and the expression level of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) to clarify the humoral immune condition in human PBMC-transplanted NOG-hIL-4 mice. The results showed that the human GR mRNA level was significantly lower in NOG-hIL-4-Tg splenocytes than in conventional NOG splenocytes after immunization. Whereas no obvious difference of the proportion of T helper-cell subsets was observed between the NOG and NOG-hIL-4-Tg mouse strains, the B-cell proportion and antigen-specific IgG concentration in plasma showed strong negative correlations with the GR mRNA level. These results suggest that the GR expression level was changed in PBMCs in the humanized NOG-hIL-4-Tg mice, which may support B-cell survival and function in the mouse system.

Alloimmune Responses of Humanized Mice to Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapeutics

There is growing interest in using embryonic stem cell (ESC) and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) derivatives for tissue regeneration. However, an increased understanding of human immune responses to stem cell-derived allografts is necessary for maintaining long-term graft persistence. To model this alloimmunity, humanized mice engrafted with human hematopoietic and immune cells could prove to be useful. In this study, an in-depth analysis of graft-infiltrating human lymphocytes and splenocytes revealed that humanized mice incompletely model human immune responses toward allogeneic stem cells and their derivatives. Furthermore, using an “allogenized” mouse model, we show the feasibility of reconstituting immunodeficient mice with a functional mouse immune system and describe a key role of innate immune cells in the rejection of mouse stem cell allografts.

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Innate immunity is crucial in rejection of minor HA mismatched grafts

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Stem cell alloimmune responses modeled with an “allogenized mouse”

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Humanized mice are unable to fully model immune responses to stem cell allografts

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Splenocytes and graft-infiltrating lymphocytes display an exhausted phenotype

A novel AXL chimeric antigen receptor endows T cells with anti-tumor effects against triple negative breast cancers

Identifying targets for chimeric antigen receptor-modulated T lymphocyte (CAR-T) therapy against solid tumors is an urgent problem to solve. In this study, we showed for the first time that the receptor tyrosine kinase, AXL, is overexpressed in various tumor cell lines and patient tumor tissues including triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines and patient samples, making AXL a potent novel target for cancer therapy, specifically for TNBC treatment. We also engineered T cells with a CAR consisting of a novel single-chain variable fragment against AXL and revealed its antigen-specific cytotoxicity and ability to release cytokines in a TNBC cell line and other AXL-positive tumors in vitro. Furthermore, AXL-CAR-T cells displayed a significant anti-tumor effect and in vivo persistence in a TNBC xenograft model. Taken together, our findings indicate that AXL-CAR-T cells can represent a promising therapeutic strategy against TNBC.

Humanizing the mouse immune system to study splanchnic organ inflammation

It is well known that alterations in splanchnic organ perfusion and/or immune regulation may produce inflammatory tissue injury similar to that observed in several human disorders such as ischaemia and reperfusion injury, food allergies, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease and graft-versus-host disease. Mouse models have been tremendously important in defining the roles of the circulation, leukocyte trafficking, inflammatory mediator generation, immune regulation and the intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic inflammation. However, few of the promising interventions or therapeutics reported in mouse models of inflammatory diseases have been translated to clinically effective treatments in patients. There is growing concern that because of the significant differences that exist between the murine and human immune systems, mouse models may not adequately recapitulate the immuno-pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. This inconvenient reality has prompted a number of investigators to undertake a series of studies to humanize the murine immune system via adoptive transfer of human lymphoid or progenitor cells into a new generation of immuno-deficient recipients. In this review, we summarize the recent advances that have been made in the development of humanized mice and describe how these mouse models are being used to study the pathophysiology of splanchnic organ inflammation. In addition, we discuss the limitations of the different approaches and present potential solutions for the continued improvement of these important animal models.