Establishment of an embryonic stem (ES) cell line derived from a non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse: in vivo differentiation into lymphocytes and potential for germ line transmission

A non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse-derived embryonic stem (ES) cell line has been stably maintained in an undifferentiated state with a characteristic ES cell-like morphology, expressing the stem cell marker alkaline phosphatase, and displaying a normal diploid karyotype. After injecting the NOD-ES cells into blastocysts, chimeric mice were obtained. Small but significant numbers of lymphocytes expressed the NOD-derived MHC allele. When a chimeric mouse was mated with C57BL/6 mice, an agouti mouse was obtained, having the NOD-derived H-2 I-A β g7 haplotype. Thus, an NOD-ES cell line which can differentiate into lymphocytes with potential for germ line transmission was successfully established.