SCID-hu-PBL: a model for making human antibodies?

The ability of SCID mice to accept xenografts has been utilized in the search for a laboratory model that mimics the human immune system. Intraperitoneal injection of human peripheral blood lymphocytes into SCID mice constitutes a feasible and easy way of establishing an experimental immune system that may be manipulated without the concern that applies to human volunteers. Of particular interest to the immunotechnologists is the possibility of utilizing SCID-human chimeras to generate a human affinity maturated IgG response, which could form the basis for the development of therapeutic antibodies. This review discusses some of the potential limitations of SCID-hu-PBL chimeras in achieving this goal.