Isolating Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells to Generate Human Immune System Mice

Source: Lanis, J. M., et al. Testing Cancer Immunotherapeutics in a Humanized Mouse Model Bearing Human Tumors. J. Vis. Exp. (2022) This video demonstrates a technique for generating human immune system (HIS) mice. CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are isolated from human cord blood buffy coat cells using antibody-coated magnetic beads. The CD34+ HSCs are expanded in a growth medium enriched with cytokines and cryopreserved. Finally, the thawed HSCs are injected into an immunodeficient mouse pup to establish the HIS mouse model.