Article

The SCID-hu mouse: an in-vivo model for HIV-1 pathogenesis and stem cell gene therapy for AIDS.

Department of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine 90095-1678, USA.
Seminars in Immunology (impact factor: 6.39). 09/1996; 8(4):215-21. DOI:10.1006/smim.1996.0027 pp.215-21
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Animal models are critical to the investigation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) pathogenesis. However, normal animal models are either uninfectable with HIV-1, or if infected, do not display HIV-1 induced pathology. Here, we describe how the severe combined immunodeficient mouse (SCID), implanted with human fetal thymus and liver, has been used to model HIV-1 pathogenesis and anti-retroviral gene therapy. Unable to reject the human tissue, these chimeric mice provide the investigator with a human hematolymphoid organ which, following infection by HIV-1, may more closely mimic the situation seen in humans than standard in-vitro culture systems.

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Keywords

Animal models
 
anti-retroviral gene therapy
 
chimeric mice
 
display HIV-1 induced pathology
 
human fetal thymus
 
human hematolymphoid organ
 
human immunodeficiency virus type 1
 
human tissue
 
humans
 
immunodeficient mouse
 
model HIV-1 pathogenesis
 
normal animal models
 
standard in-vitro culture systems