A lifetime aging study of human CD19 transgenic mice

Mice transgenic for human CD19 have been an important animal model to help understand the role of this molecule in B lymphocyte function. Previously, no lifetime studies had been performed to understand the effects of this CD19 over expression on the survival or spontaneous pathology within the C57BL/6J background strain. We conducted a lifetime study with interim sacrifices to understand the transgenic effects on clinical signs, body weight, survival, and spontaneous pathology. Blood and urine samples were collected from select animals at various time points during the study for measurement of clinical pathology parameters and groups of animals were euthanized and examined at predetermined intervals. There was fair survival with some animals living to 108 weeks of age. Clinical pathology evaluations revealed a declining red cell mass with a regenerative anemia, increasing total white blood cell counts and decreasing glucose level. Total protein, albumin, and globulin levels increased to 52 weeks of age and then declined to or below baseline with advancing age. Increased urinary microalbumin levels correlated with the severity of a glomerulopathy at 76 and 84 weeks of age. Mean body weight increased through 70 weeks and then declined to weights similar to week 28 at 108 weeks. Macroscopic observations included pale kidneys, enlarged seminal vesicles, and enlarged spleens (at 108 weeks of age). The most common neoplasms in this study were bronchiolar alveolar adenomas in the lung, histiocytic sarcoma in several different tissues, and hepatocellular adenomas. The most common non-neoplastic lesions were renal glomerulopathy, and pulmonary lymphocytic infiltrates with increased numbers of alveolar macrophages.