This transgenic strain carries a rearranged T cell receptor transgene specific for the mouse homologue (pmel-17) of human SILV (gp100), an enzyme involved in pigment synthesis that is expressed by the majority of malignant melanoma cells including B16 melanoma, as well as by normal melanocytes. In mice from founder line 8 the transgenic integration was determined to be on Chromosome 2, in the 3' UTR of the serine threonine kinase 39 (Stk39) gene. STK39 is involved in the cellular stress response pathway. The strain is also homozygous for the T lymphocyte specific Thy1a (Thy1.1) allele. CD8+ T cells express a Tcra-V1/Tcrb-V13- transgenic TCR that recognizes an epitope of pmel-17 corresponding to amino acids 25-33 of gp100 presented by H2-Db MHC class I molecules. Greater than 95% of the CD8+ T cells in transgenic mice expressed the transgenic TCR based on the expression of Vbeta13, amounting to about 20% of all splenocytes. T cells in blood and spleen generally expressed baseline levels of the activation/effector markers CD25, CD44, and CD69, indicating that most of the transgenic cells were in the naive state. In The Jackson Laboratory Repository colony, approximately 30% of transgenic mice develop lymphomas, found predominantly in the thymus and lymph nodes, at 5 to 7 months of age. Low incidence of earlier onset (by ~4 months) may be observed. Also around 5 months of age (or younger), ~half of transgenic mice may exhibit varying degrees of depigmentation (light salt and pepper to nearly white). Coat color lightening may be more prevalent in the males. These transgenic mice in conjunction with the poorly immunogenic B16 melanoma, a highly aggressive tumor in C57BL/6 mice, provide a physiologically relevant tumor model system for studies related to immunotherapy. In addition, these transgenic mice are useful for studying in vivo T-cell biology such as TCR-ligand interactions, T-cell activation, thymic selection, cross-presentation of antigens, process of thymic selection and central and peripheral T-cell tolerance and induction.

This transgenic strain carries a rearranged T cell receptor transgene specific for the mouse homologue (pmelSi or pmel-17) of human premelanosome protein (referred to as PMEL, SILV or gp100), and the T lymphocyte specific Thy1a (Thy1.1) allele. About 1/3 of transgenic mice develop lymphomas by 5 to 7 months of age. These transgenic mice provide a tumor model system for studies related to immunotherapy, and for studying in vivo T-cell biology

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