The fight against cancer relies heavily on the body’s immune system, and many immunotherapies are focused on enhancing the immune response to cancer cells. Understanding how the immune system works and interacts with tumors is crucial in developing effective treatments. However, modeling the immune system in vitro or in a computer simulation is extremely challenging, leading researchers to rely on animal models for experimentation. Mice have been a common model organism for studying the immune system, but to better mimic human immunity, researchers have developed a new model using cord blood human cells in mice with no immune system of their own.
Researchers at the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute have developed a new method using human cord blood mononuclear cells to create a more efficient and accurate model of the human immune system in mice. This new experimental platform has shown a superior ability to produce and sustain a balanced immune cell population, accurately representing both lymphoid and myeloid immune lines. Additionally, using cord blood cells, which are immunologically naïve, has resulted in lower rates of graft-versus-host disease, a life-threatening condition where transplanted immune cells attack the host tissues. This new model has shown promising results in dealing with transplanted human cancer cells, with higher survival rates and increased immune cell infiltration into tumors, mimicking a realistic immune response.
While this experimental model is still in its early stages, the initial results suggest that it could be a promising system for understanding how the immune system responds to cancer and for developing new generations of immunotherapy at the preclinical stage. By using a more accurate and efficient model, researchers hope to gain a deeper understanding of the immune response to cancer and improve the development of immunotherapies. The research has been supported by funding from various organizations, including La Caixa Foundation, the European Union, and the International Josep Carreras Foundation, among others.
Overall, the use of human cord blood mononuclear cells in mice without their own immune system has shown to be a valuable tool in studying the immune response to cancer. This new experimental model has demonstrated a superior ability to produce a balanced immune cell population and effectively combat transplanted cancer cells. With further research and development, this model holds promise for advancing our knowledge of the immune system’s role in cancer and the development of innovative immunotherapies. The support from various funding sources has been instrumental in driving this research forward and contributing to the fight against cancer through improved understanding of the immune system.