The blood of human SzS patients contains malignant T cells. Since the blood of CB-17 SCID beige mice contains no mature lymphocytes they should be easily detected. However, no malignant Repotrectinib SzS cells were detected in the blood of

the tumor bearing animals, indicating that the malignant human T cells cannot grow in the blood of CB-17 SCID beige mice. The inspection of the inner organs of the tumor bearing mice showed no signs of metastasis formation. Morphology of the SzS tumors on CB-17 SCID beige mice The inspection of excised tumors under the microscope, showed that larger tumors contained a necrotic inner center that was covered by zone of living cells. These cells were surrounded by areas that contained atypical blood vessels (Figure 2A), which had mostly only an incomplete endothelium. The tumors find more consisted of two populations of cells. One population consisted of malignant T cells

with large spongiform nuclei. Their identity as malignant T cells (Hut78 cells) was confirmed by staining with an antibody against CD3 (Figure 2B). The Hut78 cells in the tumor appeared as plasma rich malignant T cells, whose plasma membrane stained strongly by the CD3 antibody, confirming the presence of the T cell receptor Saracatinib clinical trial on these cells. Malignant T cells also infiltrated the dermis and epidermis and caused in some tumors the formation of a visible necrotic area in the center of the tumor. Figure 2 Morphology of an excised tumor from CB-17 SCID beige mice. A) Overview. The center of the tumor Fossariinae with necrotic cells is on the bottom on the right side of the figure. The area of living tumor cells can be recognized by the staining with the FLIP antibody. Tumor associated blood vessels appear as white holes. Tumor cells infiltrate the dermis and the epidermis is still intact. Note that the cells at the bottoms of the hair follicles also stain strongly with the FLIP antibody. B) Presence of malignant T cells in the tumor area proven by staining with a CD3 antibody. C) FLIP antibody staining of granulocytes. The FLIP staining cells show the typical segmented nuclei of granulocytes. The original magnifications of the figures 2A,

2B, and 2C were 5×, 20×, and 50× respectively. The other cell population consisted of tumor infiltrating granulocytes, which were easily identified by their segmented and more condensed nuclei (Figure 2c). The granulocytes reacted strongly with an antibody against the anti-apoptotic FLIP protein, whereas the Hut78 only weakly stained with this antibody. Discussion Subcutaneous injection of malignant SzS cells under the skin of CB-17 SCID beige mice led to the formation of isolated tumors at the sites of injection. In contrast to the Sézary syndrome in man, no leukemic T cells were detected in the blood of the injected mice. No metastases were observed. In contrast to other malignancies, it has been difficult to establish mouse models for CTCLs as mycosis fungoides and the Sézary syndrome [7–10].