Immunology models comparison

Following are comparisons between 3 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 Number 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. 174(10):6477-89.
  2. Shultz, L.D. et al. 2007 Nat. Rev. Immunol. 7(2):118-30.

NOD.CB17-Prkdcscid/J (Stock Number 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. Residual innate immunity
  2. Residual NK-cell activity
  3. Reduced life span due to thymic lymphomas

References

  1. Shultz, L.D. et al. 1995 J. Immunol. 154(1):180-91.

NU/J (Stock Number 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. 62(3):330-3.