Reevaluation of NOD/SCID Mice as NK Cell-Deficient Models. (10th November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Miao, Miao; Masengere, Henry; Yu, Guang; Shan, Fengping
• Other Names: Li Ziqing Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: BioMed research international. Volume 2021(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-11-10
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; Biology -- Periodicals; Biotechnology -- Periodicals; Life sciences -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1155/2021/8851986
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2314-6133

Abstract

Abstract : Objective . Natural killer (NK) cell-deficient mice are useful models in biomedical research. NOD/SCID mice have been used as a model of this type in research. However, the actual status of NK cells in NOD/SCID mice and CB17/SCID mice in comparison with that in BALB/c mice has not been sufficiently evaluated. Methods . Splenocytes from naïve or poly(I:C)-treated mice were isolated for phenotyping and analysis of cytotoxicity-related molecules and inhibitory receptors; for cytotoxicity assay, purified NK cells were also used. Results . The proportion of splenic NK cells did not differ significantly between NOD/SCID and CB17/SCID mice. The perforin levels in NK cells were similar between the poly(I:C)-treated CB17/SCID and NOD/SCID mice, while the granzyme B and NKG2A/C/E levels in NK cells from NOD/SCID mice were significantly lower than those from CB17/SCID mice. Moreover, the NKG2D and Ly49A levels in NK cells from NOD/SCID mice were higher than those from CB17/SCID. The splenocytes from CB17/SCID mice showed higher cytotoxicity than those from NOD/SCID mice, while the cytotoxicity of purified NK cells basically did not differ between the two strains. After in vitro stimulation with cytokines, the splenocytes from CB17/SCID mice showed higher IFN- γ production than those from NOD/SCID mice; however, NK cells did not. Conclusion . There was no significant difference in the proportion of splenic NK cells between CB17/SCID and NOD/SCID mice, and the function of NK cells was only partially compromised in NOD/SCID mice. Caution should be taken when considering the use of NOD/SCID mice as an NK-deficient model.