Immunology models comparison

Following are comparisons between 4 common immunology research strains to showcase the strengths & weaknesses of the NSG mouse as a new model for study.

NOD.Cg-Prkdcscid Il2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ (stock #005557)

Common name: NSG

Phenotype

  1. No functional T or B cells
  2. Radiation sensitive
  3. IL-2R gamma chain deficiency; no high-affinity signaling through multiple cytokine receptors leading to many innate immune defects

Advantages

  1. Long lifespan
  2. Severe adaptive and innate immune deficiency
  3. NK cell absent
  4. Higher level of engraftment of human cells
  5. Permissive environment for the development of functional human immune system
  6. Complete absence of the IL-2R gamma chain

Disadvantages

  1. Absence of appropriate MHC molecules for T-cell selection in the mouse thymus
  2. Absence of some human-specific cytokines required for human cell development
  3. Low and variable level of T-cell-dependent antibody response

References

  1. Shutlz, L.D. et al. 2005 J. Immunol.
  2. Shultz, L.D. et al. 2007 Nat. Rev. Immunol.

NOD.Cg-PrkdcscidIl2rgtm1Sug/Jic (non-JAX strain)

Common name: NOG

Phenotype

Similar to NOD.Cg-Prkdcscid Il2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ (stock #005557) except that NOG mice express truncated IL-2R gamma chains that are still capable of binding to cytokines.

Advantages

Similar to NOD.Cg-Prkdcscid Il2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ (stock #005557)

Disadvantages

Similar to NOD.Cg-Prkdcscid Il2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ (stock #005557) but lacks complete IL-2r gamma chain loss of function.

References

  1. Ohbo, K. et al. 1996 Blood
  2. Ito, M. et al. 2002 Blood

NOD.CB17-Prkdcscid/J (stock #001303)

Common name: NOD-scid

Phenotype

  1. No functional T or B cells
  2. Radiation sensitive
  3. Decreased innate immunity

Advantages

  1. Low level of innate immunity
  2. Low NK-cell function
  3. Increased engraftment of human haematopoietic stem cells and peripheral-blood mononuclear cells

Disadvantages

  1. Residue innate immunity
  2. Residue NK-cell activity
  3. Reduced life span due to thymic lymphomas

References

  1. Shultz, L.D. et al. 1995 J. Immunol.

NU/J (stock #002019)

Common name: nude

Phenotype

Athymic

Advantages

No T cells

Disadvantages

  1. High NK-cell activity
  2. Intact humoral immunity
  3. No engraftment of human haematopoietic cells

References

  1. Ganick, D.J. et al. 1980 Int. Arch. Allergy Appl. Immunol.