Development of an orthotopic HCC mouse model for analysis of tumor-specific CD8 T cell responses

In order to study the influence of hepatocellular carcinoma on cytotoxic CD8 T cells we have established an orthotopic HCC mouse model. Hepatic tumors were established in vivo using the „Sleeping beauty“ transposon system. Hydrodynamic injection was used to facilitate transfection of murine hepatocytes with the plasmids that contain cDNA coding for oncogenes. After the SB transposase achieved integration of the oncogenes into the genome of the hepatocytes, the mice livers develop tumors. We have compared various combinations of oncogenes in order to see what is the minimum condition for the formation of HCCs. As…