[Growth and infiltration of human monocytic leukemia cell in nude mice: a model for central nervous system leukemia].
OBJECTIVE
To establish a model of human monocytic leukemia with CNS infiltration in BALB/c nude mice.


METHODS
BALB/c nu/nu mice pre-treated by splenectomy, cytoxan intraperitoneal injection, and sublethal irradiation (SCI), were transplanted intravenously with 1 x 10(7) of human monocytic leukemic SHI-1 cells. The leukemic cells engrafted in the mice were detected by RT-PCR, histopathological examination, immunohistochemistry and FCM.


RESULTS
The survival time of SCI-nu/nu mice was 33-46 d. Paraplegia occurred in some of the mice. 5 weeks after transplantation, SHI-1 cells engrafted in SCI-nu/nu mice, multi-organs were involved and green solid neoplasms were formed in some organs. Histopathological examination found that SHI-1 cells infiltrated in liver, lung, kidney and testis of the mice and vertebral and skull bone marrow was replaced by leukemic cells. Leukemic cell penetrated through the surface of vertebrae, formed neoplasm, and entered the subdural space, but seldom involved the spinal parenchyma. In brain leukemia cells were filled in the subdural space and pia-arachnoid, covered the surface of cerebrum, cerebellum, spread along the virchow-robin space on the surface of pia mater, and eventually invaded the brain parenchyma.


CONCLUSIONS
SHI-1 cells could engrafted in the SCI-nu/nu mice, form an efficient and reproducible experimental model of CNSL and systematic leukemia. This model may be useful for studying the pathogenesis of CNSL.
Li
Zhen-jiang
ZJ
Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, 1st Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China.
Chen
Zi-xing
ZX
Lu
Jun
J
Cen
Jian-nong
JN
He
Jun
J
Guo
Ling-chuan
LC
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms; D006801:Humans; D007942:Leukemia, Experimental / Q000473:pathology; D007948:Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D051381:Rats; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays / Q000379:methods