Female severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice 2 months of age (Frederick Animal Production Program, Frederick, MD) were allowed to acclimate for 4 weeks before use. Strict adherence to the UAB Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approved protocol was maintained throughout the study. Orthotopic cell implantation followed the procedure in DeRosier et al. (21 (link)). Briefly, mice were anesthetized with i.p. xylazine and ketamine. A 1-cm incision was made in the left upper abdominal quadrant in a sterile hood. The spleen was located and used to indirectly position the tail of the pancreas, carefully avoiding direct pancreatic manipulation. Mice (8/group) received S2VP10L, S2VP10L-CP, S2VP10L-KFMΔSS1, or S2VP10L-KISS1 cells. The cellular suspension was stored on ice in a sterile tube and then drawn up using a 28-gauge needle to aliquot 1 × 105 cells/40 μl which was injected into the tail of the pancreas. A sterile cotton tipped applicator was used to cover the injection site for 30 s to prevent peritoneal leakage. The organs were returned to the abdomen and the skin and peritoneum were closed in a single layer closure with 5-0 Prolene sutures. Animals recovered on a warming blanket and received liquid acetaminophen for 24 h with food and water ad libitum.