Detection of residual and chemoresistant leukemic cells in an immune-competent mouse model of acute myeloid leukemia: Potential for unravelling their interactions with immunity

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by blocked differentiation and extensive proliferation of hematopoietic progenitors/precursors. Relapse is often observed after chemotherapy due to the presence of residual leukemic cells, which is also called minimal residual disease (MRD). Subclonal heterogeneity at diagnosis was found to be responsible for MRD after treatment. Patient xenograft mouse models are valuable tools for studying MRD after chemotherapy; however, the contribution of the immune system in these models is usually missing. To evaluate its role in leukemic persistence, we generated an immune-competent AML mouse model of persistence after chemotherapy treatment. We used well-characterized (phenotypically and genetically) subclones of the murine C1498 cell line stably expressing the ZsGreen reporter gene and the WT1 protein, a valuable antigen. Accordingly, these subclones were also selected due to their in vitro aracytidine (Ara-c) sensitivity. A combination of 3 subclones (expressing or not expressing WT1) was found to lead to prolonged mouse survival after Ara-c treatment (as long as 150 days). The presence of residual leukemic cells in the blood and BM of surviving mice indicated their persistence. Thus, a new mouse model that may offer insights into immune contributions to leukemic persistence was developed.