Engraftment of human chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells in SCID mice: in vivo and in vitro studies

摘要: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a heterogeneous disease of the elderly which can present in one three stages; benign, intermediate or advanced. The molecular events governing progression CLL are poorly understood. In order to develop model systems for predicting aggressiveness leukemic clones CLL, vivo transplantation SCID mice with cells, and vitro growth cells on mouse human stromal layers, were investigated. Bone marrow peripheral blood from 40 patients at different stages transplanted into 172 immune-deficient mice. Thirty-five percent injected positive presence DNA by Southern blot PCR analysis. most frequently involved sites spleen, lung, kidney bone marrow, levels corresponding 0.1 10 DNA. Thrice-weekly intraperitoneal injections IL-2, alone combination IL-7, did not increase level cell engraftment. developed endogenous thymic lymphomas an incidence 10-33 percent, rate that was increased transplantation. vitro, able proliferate 9 weeks layers supplemented CM (conditioned media culture bladder carcinoma line 5637), but failed thrive murine MTE cultured either autologous serum. FACS analysis revealed 81 proliferating carried CD5 surface marker, identifying them as cells. Previously EBV-negative became EBV-positive after 12 culture. results this study provide firm foundation development CLL.