RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Bone Marrow-derived Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells Engraft NOD/SCID Mice and Traffic Appropriately to an Inflammatory Stimulus in the Joint JF The Journal of Rheumatology JO J Rheumatol FD The Journal of Rheumatology SP jrheum.090317 DO 10.3899/jrheum.090317 A1 Nan-Hua Chang A1 Robert D. Inman A1 John E. Dick A1 Joan E. Wither YR 2010 UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2010/01/27/jrheum.090317.abstract AB Objective Studies of human inflammatory arthritis would be significantly aided by the development of better animal models. Our hypothesis is that it is possible to develop humanized arthritis models through novel techniques of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) delivery. Methods Bone marrow was obtained from patients with osteoarthritis who were undergoing total hip replacement. HSPC were enriched by negative selection and injected into the femur of irradiated anti-CD122 treated nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency (NOD/SCID) mice. Human cell engraftment was analyzed by flow cytometry. Arthritis was induced by an intraarticular injection of Chlamydia trachomatis and injected knee joints were examined 5 days later by histology and immunohistochemistry. Results Human bone marrow HSPC successfully engrafted NOD/SCID mice, with some mice showing up to 90% engrafted human cells. Human B lymphoid and myeloid cells were detected in the bone marrow and spleen 6 weeks following transfer of HSPC, and engrafted recipient mice remained healthy up to 12 weeks postinjection. Chlamydia-injected mice that had been repopulated with HSPC had synovial inflammation, consisting of human neutrophils and macrophages. Conclusion Bone marrow-derived human HSPC engraft NOD/SCID mice and traffic appropriately to an inflammatory stimulus in the joint, thus offering the potential for direct studies on the immunopathogenesis and treatment of human arthritis.