Immunology INSIGHTS

A hyperactive immune system can be a positive or a negative in the disease setting depending on the desired outcome. Autoimmune diseases such as graft-versus-host disease, lupus, inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, IPEX, and more are caused by the immune system attacking healthy host tissue. These diseases can be modeled preclinically using humanized immune system (HIS) mice, with varying levels of success. Studying Autoimmune Diseases in NOG Mice...  Read More

Humanized immune system (HIS) mice have a variety of applications for studying diseases in which the immune system drives pathogenesis. This includes immuno-oncology, autoimmunity, and a less discussed but also crucial subset of immunologic disorders, allergy. Indeed, Taconic's CD34+ hematopoietic stem cell (HSC)-engrafted NOG-EXL (huNOG-EXL) is a model that supports the key myeloid cell populations that mediate allergic responses in humans. Humanized NOG-EXL mice support key myeloid...  Read More

Several super immunodeficient models expressing cytokines designed to drive myeloid cell lineage commitment have been generated. The most advanced cytokine transgenic mouse models are the huNOG-EXL, NSG-SGM3 and the MISTRG. This group of models has promise to improve human immune system engraftment in mice, but each one has different features which must be considered when choosing an experimental model. Each model expresses two or more human variants...  Read More

New research offers insights into the connection between regulatory T cells and ILC3-driven colitis, suggesting opportunities for checkpoint modulation therapies. Researchers at Merck and the University of Bern explored the role of FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg cells) in innate lymphoid cell 3 (ILC3)-driven colitis. The researchers found that Treg cells inhibited production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines which drive ILC3 production of interleukin 22 (IL-22). They identified...  Read More

While the field of immunology has origins that date back to the 1500s, the field gained significant ground with the expanded use of mouse model systems. Fundamental discoveries elucidated in mouse models over the past 50 years are beginning to yield major breakthrough treatments for the most sinister human diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, neurodegeneration, and cancer. The immunologist's major professional association, the American Association of Immunology,...  Read More

The CIEA NOG mouse® is often referred to as an ideal mouse for engraftment of foreign (especially human) cells. The high rates of engraftment make NOG mice a preferred choice for patient-derived xenografts and humanized immune system mice studies. What special properties make the NOG mouse such a great acceptor of foreign cells and tissues? To answer this question, one need only look at the mouse line's...  Read More

When discrepancies in immune response arise between animal models and humans, some investigators are quick to question the adequacy of laboratory mice as a proxy for human subjects. Two collaborative studies, published in Nature and Cell Host & Microbe, suggest that animal model microbiome and health standards are key to interpreting these discrepancies - and that mice with more extensive history of pathogen exposure may better model...  Read More

Humanized mouse models are critical tools for basic research, modeling of certain human-specific infectious diseases, efficacy testing of immunotherapy approaches, and safety assessment for large molecule therapeutics. Taconic Biosciences recently hosted the symposium series "Advanced Preclinical Models for Immuno-oncology and Infectious Disease" in several European cities, which focused on the latest research applications of human immune system engrafted mice and the introduction of next generation models. International...  Read More

Mice with compromised immune systems are invaluable research tools. Starting with the discovery of athymic nude mice in the 1960's, the portfolio of immunodeficient rodents has grown significantly. Although these models are used quite widely, not all researchers understand their intrinsic characteristics and how those characteristics impact experimental outcomes. Learn more about two key immunodeficient models, scid mutants and Rag2 knockouts, and how to choose the most...  Read More

Two questions often posed about the production of human immune system engrafted mouse models are "how reproducible and therefore how reliable is the engraftment process?" These are valid questions, and they must account for many variables. For Taconic Biosciences' engrafted models program, outstanding proficiency and strict adherence to production practices have eliminated some of the technical barriers to reliable human immune system engrafted mouse (i.e. huNOG) production....  Read More