Gene targeting in NOD mouse embryos using zinc-finger nucleases. Diabetes 2014 Jan;63(1):68-74
Date
08/27/2013Pubmed ID
23974926Pubmed Central ID
PMC3868049DOI
10.2337/db13-0192Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84891791730 21 CitationsAbstract
Studies in NOD mice have provided important insight into the genetics and pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Our goal was to further explore novel methods of genetic manipulation in this mouse model. We tested the feasibility of using zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs) to knock out a gene directly in a pure NOD background, bypassing the need of embryonic stem cells. We report here the successful application of ZFN pairs to specifically and efficiently knock out Tnfrsf9 (encoding CD137/4-1BB) directly in the NOD mouse by embryo microinjection. Histology and T1D incidence studies indicated that CD137 was dispensable for the development of insulitis but played a role to promote progression to overt diabetes in NOD mice. We also demonstrated that CD137-deficient T-cells were less diabetogenic than their wild-type counterpart when adoptively transferred into NOD.Rag1(-/-) recipients, even when CD25(+) cells were predepleted. In vitro assays suggested that CD137 deficiency had a limited effect on the suppressive function of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T-cells (Tregs). Therefore, CD137 deficiency predominately affected effector T-cells rather than Tregs. Our study demonstrates the ability to generate gene-targeted knockouts in a pure NOD background by using ZFNs without potential confounding factors introduced by contaminating genetic materials obtained from other strains.
Author List
Chen YG, Forsberg MH, Khaja S, Ciecko AE, Hessner MJ, Geurts AMAuthors
Yi-Guang Chen PhD Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of WisconsinAron Geurts PhD Professor in the Physiology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Martin J. Hessner PhD Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AnimalsDiabetes Mellitus, Type 1
Gene Knockout Techniques
Mice
Mice, Inbred NOD
T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9
Zinc Fingers
