• Development and Reproduction
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.79-92
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• 2019

Humanized mice, containing engrafted human cells and tissues, are emerging as an important in vivo platform for studying human diseases. Since the development of Nod scid gamma (NSG) mice bearing mutations in the IL-2 receptor gamma chain, many investigators have used NSG mice engrafted with human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to generate functional human immune systems in vivo, results in high efficacy of human cell engraftment. The development of NSG mice has allowed significant advances to be made in studies on several human diseases, including cancer and graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD), and in regenerative medicine. Based on the human HSC transplantation, organ transplantation including thymus and liver in the renal capsule has been performed. Also, immune reconstruction of cells, of the lymphoid as well as myeloid lineages, has been partly accomplished. However, crosstalk between pluripotent stem cell derived therapeutic cells with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) mis/matched types and immune CD3 T cells have not been fully addressed. To overcome this hurdle, human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, not mouse MHC molecules, are required to generate functional T cells in a humanized mouse model. Here, we briefly summarize characteristics of the humanized mouse model, focusing on development of CD3 T cells with MHC molecules. We also highlight the necessity of the humanized mouse model for the treatment of various human diseases.

• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.9
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• pp.466-471
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• 2020

Several humanized mouse models are being used to study humanspecific immune responses and diseases. However, the pivotal needs of fetal tissues for the humanized mice model have been huddled because of the demand for ethical and medical approval. Thus, we have verified the hematopoietic and immunomodulatory function of HepaRG and developed a new and easy humanized mouse model to replace the use of fetal liver tissue. HepaRG co-transplanted Hu-NSG mice significantly increased CD45+ lymphocytes and CD19+ B cells and CD3+ T cells than normal Hu-NSG, suggesting enhanced reconstitution of the human immune system. These results have improved the applicability of humanized mice by developing new models easily accessible.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2014

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is etiologically associated with a variety of diseases including lymphoproliferative diseases, lymphomas, carcinomas, and autoimmune diseases. Humans are the only natural host of EBV and limited species of new-world monkeys can be infected with the virus in experimental conditions. Small animal models of EBV infection, required for evaluation of novel therapies and vaccines for EBV-associated diseases, have not been available. Recently the development of severely immunodeficient mouse strains enabled production of humanized mice in which human immune system components are reconstituted and express their normal functions. Humanized mice can serve as infection models for human-specific viruses such as EBV that target cells of the immune system. This review summarizes recent studies by the author's group addressing reproduction of EBV infection and pathogenesis in humanized mice.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.233-241
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• 2002

Background: Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) of rodent origin are produced with ease by hybridoma fusion technique, and have been successfully used as therapeutic reagents for humans after humanization by genetic engineering. However, utilization of these antibodies for therapeutic purpose has been limited by the fact that they act as immunogens in human body causing undesired side effects. So far, there have been several attempts to produce human mAbs for effective in vivo diagnostic or therapeutic reagents including the use of humanized xenomouse that is generated by mating knockout mice which lost Ig heavy and light chain genes by homologous recombination and transgenic mice having both human Ig heavy and light gene loci in their genome. Methods: Genomic DNA fragments of mouse Ig heavy and light chain were obtained from a mouse brain ${\lambda}$ genomic library by PCR screening and cloned into a targeting vector with ultimate goal of generating Ig knockout mouse. Results: Through PCR screening of the genomic library, three heavy chain and three light chain Ig gene fragments were identified, and restriction map of one of the heavy chain gene fragments was determined. Then heavy chain Ig gene fragments were subcloned into a targeting vector. The resulting construct was introduced into embryonic stem cells. Antibiotic selection of transfected cells is under the progress. Conclusion: Generation of xenomouse is particularly important in medical biotechnology. However, this goal is not easily achieved due to the technical difficulties as well as huge financial expenses. Although we are in the early stage of a long-term project, our results, at least, partially contribute the successful generation of humanized xenomouse in Korea.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.572-577
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• 2007

To enhance therapeutic potential of murine monoclonal antibody, humanization by CDR grafting is usually used to reduce immunogenic mouse residues. Most humanized antibodies still have mouse residues critical for antigen binding, but the mouse residues may evoke immune responses in humans. Previously, we constructed a new humanized version (AKA) of mouse CC49 antibody specific for tumor-associated glycoprotein, TAG-72. In this study, to select a completely human antibody light chain against TAG-72, guided selection strategy using phage display was used. The heavy chain variable region (VH) of AKA was used to guide the selection of a human TAG-72-specific light chain variable region (VL) from a human VL repertoire constructed from human PBL. Most of the selected VLs were identified to be originated from the members of the human germline VK1 family, whereas the VL of AKA is more homologous to the VK4 family. Competition binding assay of the selected Fabs with mouse CC49 suggested that the epitopes of the Fabs overlap with that of CC49. In addition, they showed better antigen-binding affinity compared to parental AKA. The selected human VLs may be used to guide the selection of human VHs to get completely human anti-TAG72 antibody.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.1327-1338
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• 2013

The humanized anti-hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) monoclonal antibody (mAb) YYB-101 is a promising therapeutic candidate for treating various cancers. In this study, we developed a bioprocess for large-scale production of YYB-101 and evaluated its therapeutic potential for tumor treatment using a xenograft mouse model. By screening diverse chemically defined basal media formulations and by assessing the effects of various feed supplements and feeding schedules on cell growth and antibody production, we established an optimal medium and feeding method to produce 757 mg/l of YYB-101 in flask cultures, representing a 7.5-fold increase in titer compared with that obtained under non-optimized conditions. The optimal dissolved oxygen concentration for antibody production was 70% $pO_2$. A pH shift from 7.2 to 7.0, rather than controlled pH of either 7.0 or 7.2, resulted in productivity improvement in 5 L and 200 L bioreactors, yielding 737 and 830 mg/ml of YYB-101, respectively. The YYB-101 mAb highly purified by affinity chromatography using a Protein A column and two-step ion exchange chromatography effectively neutralized HGF in a cell-based assay and showed potent tumor suppression activity in a mouse xenograft model established with human glioblastoma cells.

• Interdisciplinary Bio Central
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.15.1-15.5
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• 2010

RIKEN BioResource Center (BRC) has collected, preserved, conducted quality control of, and distributed mouse resources since 2002 as the core facility of the National BioResource Project by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan. Our mouse resources include over 5,000 strains such as humanized disease models, fluorescent reporters, and knockout mice. We have developed novel mouse strains such as tissue-specific Cre-drivers and optogenetic strains that are in high demand by the research community. We have removed all our specified pathogens from the deposited mice and used our quality control tests to examine their genetic modifications and backgrounds. RIKEN BRC is a founding member of the Federation of International Mouse Resources and the Asian Mouse Mutagenesis and Resource Association, and provides mouse resources to the one-stop International Mouse Strain Resource database. RIKEN BRC also participates in the International Gene Trap Consortium, having registered 713 gene-trap clones and their sequences in a public library, and is an advisory member of the CREATE (Coordination of resources for conditional expression of mutated mouse alleles) consortium which represents major European and international mouse database holders for the integration and dissemination of Cre-driver strains. RIKEN BRC provides training courses in the use of advanced technologies for the quality control and cryopreservation of mouse strains to promote the effective use of mouse resources worldwide.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.3109-3116
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• 2013

The majority of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients have a poor prognosis with current therapies, and new approaches are urgently needed. We have developed a novel therapeutic cancer vaccine platform based on tumor cell derived autophagosomes (DRibbles) for cancer immunotherapy. We here evaluated the effectiveness of DRibbles-pulsed dendritic cell (DC) immunization to induce anti-tumor immunity in BALB/c mouse HCC and humanized HCC mouse models generated by transplantation of human HCC cells (HepG2) into BALB/c-nu mice. DRibbles were enriched from H22 or BNL cells, BALB/c-derived HCC cell lines, by inducing autophagy and blocking protein degradation. DRibbles-pulsed DC immunization induced a specific T cell response against HCC and resulted in significant inhibition of tumor growth compared to mice treated with DCs alone. Antitumor efficacy of the DCs-DRibbles vaccine was also demonstrated in a humanized HCC mouse model. The results indicated that HCC/DRibbles-pulsed DCs immunotherapy might be useful for suppressing the growth of residual tumors after primary therapy of human HCC.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.157-164
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• 2018

Francisella tularensis (FT), a highly infectious pathogen, is considered to be a potential biological weapon owing to the current lack of a human vaccine against it. Tul4 and FopA, both outer membrane proteins of FT, play an important role in the bacterium's immunogenicity. In the present study, we evaluated the immune response of mice - humanized with human CD34+ cells (hu-mice) - to a cocktail of recombinant Tul4 and FopA (rTul4 and rFopA), which were codon-optimized and expressed in Escherichia coli. Not only did the cocktail-immunized hu-mice produce a significant human immunoglobulin response, they also exhibited prolonged survival against an attenuated live vaccine strain as well as human T cells in the spleen. These results suggest that the cocktail of rTul4 and rFopA had successfully induced an immune response in the hu-mice, demonstrating the potential of this mouse model for use in the evaluation of FT vaccine candidates.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.372-380
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• 2019

Mice with specific modified genes are useful means of studying development and disease. The CRISPR/Cas9 system is a very powerful and effective tool for generating genetically modified mice in a simple and fast manner. To generate human IgG light kappa constant knock-in mice, we tested by microinjection of a mixture of Cas9 protein, single-guide RNA and target homologous recombinant donor DNA into zygotes. We found that the injection of 10 ng/μL of Cas9 protein and crRNA/tracrRNA, rather than single guide RNA, induced the production of knock-in mice more effectively. Thus, our study provides valuable information that will help to improve the production of knock-in mice and contribute the successful generation of humanized Ab-producing mice in Korea.