Humanized mouse models with functional human lymphoid and hematopoietic systems through human hematopoietic stem cell and human fetal thymic tissue transplantation

Abstract

In order to better translate laboratory findings into clinical practice, numerous efforts have been made to develop humanized mouse models with functional human lymphoid and hematopoietic systems, which possess far more advantages than conventional animal models. Among several humanized mouse models, one established by transplantation with human hematopoietic stem cells together with human fetal thymic tissues has reconstituted nearly all of the lineages of the human functional lymphoid and hematopoietic cells. This humanized mouse model has been broadly used to study human physiology and pathology and to evaluate new therapeutic drugs for diseases relevant to the human lymphoid and hematopoietic system such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), cancer, plasmodium malaria, and others. In this chapter, we introduce the method to establish this humanized mouse model in detail based on our experiences.