The analysis shown in Fig. 2 was performed 5 days after repopulation and represents data for one individual mouse, representative of the entire group. Mice were repopulated with huPBMC-DQ8, containing 40% CD3+ T cells, 9% CD19+ B cells, 5% CD56+ NK cells and 6% CD14+ monocytes/macrophages. One week after repopulation, no difference was detectable between NRG and NRG Aβ–/–DQ8tg recipient mice. In both strains, more murine CD45+ cells (muCD45 > 80%)

than huCD45+ cells were present. As shown in Fig. 1, huCD45+ cells increased throughout the experiment, while SB431542 datasheet muCD45+ cells decreased correspondingly (data not shown). Detailed analysis demonstrated that huCD45+ cells in NRG as well as NRG Aβ–/–DQ8tg mice consist mainly of CD3+ T cells (>98%). Other human immune cells such as NK cells (CD56+), monocytes (CD14+) or B cell types (CD5-CD19+, CD5+CD19+) could not be detected in either strain even at the earliest BKM120 research buy time-point (day 3) (data not shown), although these subtypes were present among the donor huPBMC-DQ8 cells. Thus, human T cells repopulate both strains selectively. Engraftment of huPBMC into NRG mice results in the development of GVHD soon after transplantation [12]. Hence, NRG and NRG Aβ–/–DQ8tg mice repopulated with haplotype-matched huPBMC-DQ8 were monitored over time for signs of disease by determining individual

disease scores [32]. Disease symptoms scored were hunched posture, ruffled hair and reduced mobility, ranked according to severity. Figure 3a shows disease scores over time of individual mice following their repopulation. Seven days after repopulation, NRG mice showed the first signs of disease while NRG Aβ–/–DQ8tg mice demonstrate such only from day 9 onwards. Furthermore, NRG mice progress

rapidly from initial symptoms to severe GVHD disease (score > 3) within 12–19 days after transfer, whereas NRG Aβ–/–DQ8tg mice never reached a clinical score of >3 before day 28 after transfer (except one animal VAV2 that had already scored 3 at day 14; however, this mouse was considerably smaller than all other mice). The progress of disease also correlated with weight loss of the individual animals. Figure 3b presents a parameter for each mouse in the group that indicates the weight loss linked to the time in the experiment. Weight loss was significantly different among the strains (P = 0·0018), with NRG mice having lost more weight (mean parameter 4·8) compared to NRG Aβ–/–DQ8tg mice (mean parameter 3·0). Apart from external signs of disease and weight loss, the pathology caused by GVHD usually becomes evident in organs such as liver, intestine, kidney and skin. A very convenient diagnostic parameter is the presence of the liver-specific enzyme alanine transferase (ALT) in the serum, occurring when there is liver damage.