The present study demonstrates that cells derived from human CD34(+) cells, isolated from either cord blood or peripheral blood, migrate into the brain after infusion into nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient mice.
To explore this potential, CD34(+) or highly purified CD34(+)CD38(-)CD7(-) human hematopoietic stem cells from umbilical cord blood and bone marrow were transplanted into immunodeficient mice.
No evidence of toxicity to the mice was detected by numerous laboratory values for bone marrow, liver, and kidney function, and no difference was seen in the ability of purged cell mixtures versus unmanipulated CD34(+) cells to reconstitute the marrow of non-obese diabetic severe combined immunodeficient mice.
The CD34(+)CD38(-) CML cell population with high aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity was the most enriched for immunodeficient mouse engrafting capacity.