Successful Transplantation of Primary Hepatocytes from DsRed Mice into Fah-/-;Scid/Scid Mice; A Future In Vivo Model System for Receiving Human Hepatocytes

Abstract

We have developed a system for studying hepatocellular growth potential in which liver cells are introduced into the diseased livers of Fah^-/-; Scid/Scid double knockout mice. To use this system to study cell transplantation, DsRed  liver cells were introduced into severe immunodeficient Fah^-/-; Scid/Scid double knockout  mice. In regenerated recipient livers, up to 20% of the mouse liver is repopulated by DsRed mouse hepatocytes demonstrating the creation of a functional mouse liver in which parenchyma is derived from DsRed mouse hepatocytes. The severe immunodeficient Fah^-/-;Scid/Scid double knockout mice provide a tool for studying hepatocellular biology.

Keywords: Human Hepatocytes, Transplantation, DsRed and Fah^-/-;Scid/Scid Mice.