Mice Models

Knowt questions:

What is a negative model?

Animal is resistant disease of interest; used to explore mechanism of resistance

What is an orphan model?

Animal disease or condition w/ no known human counterpart

Athymic nude mice:

-          Gene: FOXN1U

-          Chromosome 11

-          Nonfunctional T-cells

-          Leaky Tcells: due to extrathymic Tcell differentiation

-          Model: tumor bio and xenograft research, model for DiGeorgie’s syndrome (human congenital thymic aplasia)

-          Remember: Nude nice are foxy. A mouse turns from a 10 to an 11 when nude.

SCID mice:

-          Severe combined immunodeficient mice (SCID)

-          PRKDC-SCID: PRKDC (Gene), allele (SCID)-> defect in DNA repair

-          Mutation on chromosome 16

-          Remember: Kids get a driver’s license at 16 and SCID off the road

-          No Ig or T-cell responses

-          Become leaky as they age

-          Model: radiation (since DNA repair mechanisms not working), large primary thymic lymphoma

VDJ SCID mouse: V(D)J recombination (somatic recombination) takes place in the primary lymphoid tissue (the bone marrow for B cells, and Thymus for T cells) and are critical to normal immune function. Make different types of IgGs

-          Uses: V(D)J recombination studies, Tumor and xenograft transplantation, Lymphocyte subset transfer studies, Reconstitution of human hematopoietic system (Hu-PBL-SCID)

RAG-1 / RAG-2 Mice: Deletion of recombinase activation gene

-          Lack functional T or B cells

-          No leaks: Takes two rags to soak up the leaks

-          Models: Model for transplantation, tumors, xenograft rejection, etc. (~same as SCIDs)

NOD Strain: Non-Obese Diabetes strain: Generalized dysregulation of the immune system contributes to inflammation/destruction of pancreatic islets. Model for type 1 juvenile diabetes. Cause hearing loss at certain age.

-          Usually backcrossed to create further immunodeficiencies

-          Immunological components of NOD: deficits in antigen presentation, T cell regulation, NK cell function, cytokine production, and absence of complement protein