PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Gene knockout”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Lack of cholecystokinin-A receptor enhanced gallstone formation: a study in CCK-A receptor gene knockout mice.

The etiology of gallstones is multifactorial, with interactions between genes and the environment. We generated cholecystokinin (CCK) -A receptor (R)-deficient (-/-) mice and found that CCK did not produce gallbladder contraction in CCK-AR(-/-) mice. The purpose of this study was to identify the role of CCK-AR on gallstone formation. Age-matched CCK-AR gene (+/+) and (-/-) progenies were used. Sludge and gallstone formation, as well as plasma cholesterol levels, were measured at 12 and 24 months of age. Sludge and gallstone formation were significantly higher in CCK-AR(-/-) mice than in CCK-AR(+/+) mice at 12 and 24 months of age, although these were not different between 12 and 24 months of age. The plasma cholesterol levels, daily food intake, and body weight were not significantly different between CCK-AR(+/+) and (-/-) mice. Sludge and gallstone formation were not observed at 6 months of age. In conclusion, deteriorated gallbladder contraction due to a lack of CCK-AR favored gallstone formation after the middle age of life.

Animals↗

Combined effects of cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitors on intestinal tumorigenesis in adenomatous polyposis coli gene knockout mice.

As with cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, genetic disruption of COX-1 gene or pharmacologic inhibition of its activity has been shown to decrease the number of intestinal polyps in Apc gene-deficient mice. The present study was designed to investigate the combined effects of COX-1 and COX-2 selective inhibitors on spontaneous polyp formation in APC1309 female mice. The animals were treated with 300 or 600 ppm mofezolac (a COX-1 selective inhibitor) alone, 200 or 400 ppm nimesulide (a COX-2 selective inhibitor) alone, 300 ppm mofezolac plus 200 ppm nimesulide, 600 ppm mofezolac plus 400 ppm nimesulide, or 10 ppm indomethacin (a dual-COX inhibitor) in the diet from 7 weeks of age for 4 weeks. Percentage inhibition of polyp area in the intestine was 17% with 600 ppm mofezolac alone and 25% with 400 ppm nimesulide alone, their sum of 42% being almost equal to the 37% observed for the combination treatment. Administration of 300 ppm mofezolac plus 200 ppm nimesulide also significantly decreased polyp area in the intestine by 30%. Moreover, the numbers of polyps more than 2.5 mm in diameter were markedly decreased by combined treatment of both COX inhibitors. With 10 ppm indomethacin, the dual inhibitor, polyp area was also clearly reduced by 46%. Our results indicate that COX-1 and COX-2 may to some extent contribute to polyp formation independently and inhibitor combination treatment thus has particular potential for chemoprevention of colon carcinogenesis.

Animals↗

Aspartoacylase gene knockout in the mouse: impact on reproduction.

Canavan disease (CD) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by aspartoacylase (ASPA) gene mutations resulting enzyme deficiency. The homozygous knockout mouse for CD showed symptoms similar observed in patients with CD. Canavan disease leads to early death. Therefore, a role of ASPA in reproduction was investigated using the mouse model for CD. Homozygous (KO/KO) pups, produced by mating female heterozygous (KO/+) mouse with KO/+ males had approximately 12% death incidence rates in the first 2 months of life. KO/KO mothers mated with KO/+ males showed fetal death. KO/KO mothers produced fewer offspring compared to KO/+ mothers. These data suggest that ASPA is necessary for normal reproduction and postnatal survival.

Amidohydrolases↗

Activation of the renin-angiotensin system in alpha-calcitonin gene-related peptide/calcitonin gene knockout mice.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypotheses that circulating or tissue renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activity is increased in alpha-calcitonin gene-related peptide (alpha CGRP) knockout mice, and that this contributes to the increased blood pressure in these mice. DESIGN AND METHODS: Three- to six-month-old male alpha CGRP/calcitonin knockout mice and wild-type controls were studied. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and its response to an angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor blocker, losartan (3 mg/kg intravenously), were determined in conscious, unrestrained knockout mice and wild-type mice. Radioimmunoassay and western blot were used, respectively, to determine plasma renin activity (PRA) and AT1 receptor protein content in tissues. RESULTS: Basal MAP and PRA were significantly greater in the knockout mice than in the wild-type mice. In contrast, AT1 receptor content in the renal medulla was significantly decreased in the knockout mice compared with that in wild-type mice. AT1 receptor content in the renal cortex and mesenteric resistance arteries was not different in the knockout and wild-type mice. Losartan produced a significant decrease in MAP in the knockout mice compared with that in wild-type mice. CONCLUSION: Activity of the circulating RAS, but not tissue AT1 receptor expression, is increased in alpha CGRP/calcitonin knockout mice, which may contribute to the increase in blood pressure in this mouse model. The mechanism(s) responsible for the increased activity of the circulating RAS in the absence of alpha CGRP throughout the developmental stages of these animals remains to be determined.

Animals↗

Biological functions of IFN-gamma and IFN-alpha/beta: lessons from studies in gene knockout mice.

Mice with a targeted disruption in the IFN-gamma receptor gene (IFN-gamma R0/0) provided a useful model to ask to what extent other cytokines could replace IFN-gamma in macrophage activation. In thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal macrophages from wild-typy (WT) mice, TNF enhanced nitric oxide (NO) release in the presence of IFN-gamma, though TNF alone was not effective. In macrophages from IFN-gamma R0/0 mice, which are not responsive to IFN-gamma, TNF completely failed to stimulate NO release. The NO inducing effects of IFN-alpha/beta were indistinguishable in IFN-gamma R0/0 and WT macrophages. The important role of IFN-gamma in the regulation of the induced expression of MHC class II antigen (Ia) was confirmed by showing that after systemic infection with the BCG strain of Mycobacterium bovis, peritoneal macrophages from IFN-gamma R0/0 mice had a lower level of Ia expression than macrophages from WT mice. BCG infection was not lethal for WT mice whereas all IFN-gamma R0/0 mice died 7-9 weeks after infection. It is well known that BCG infection greatly sensitizes mice to lethal action of LPS. Injection of LPS 2 weeks after BCG inoculation was significantly less lethal for IFN-gamma R0/0 mice than for WT mice. Reduced lethality of LPS correlated with a drastically reduced TNF-alpha production in the IFN-gamma R0/0 mice after BCG infection and LPS challenge. The greatly reduced ability of BCG-infected IFN-gamma R0/0 mice to produce TNF-alpha may be an important factor in their inability to resist BCG infection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Plasmodium knowlesi provides a rapid in vitro and in vivo transfection system that enables double-crossover gene knockout studies.

Transfection technology for malaria parasites provides a valuable tool for analyzing gene function and correlating genotype with phenotype. Transfection models are even more valuable when appropriate animal models are available in addition to complete in vitro systems to be able to fully analyze parasite-host interactions. Here we describe the development of such a model by using the nonhuman primate malaria Plasmodium knowlesi. Blood-stage parasites were adapted to long-term in vitro culture. In vitro-adapted parasites could re-adapt to in vivo growth and regain wild-type characteristics after a single passage through an intact rhesus monkey. P. knowlesi parasites, either in vitro adapted or in vivo derived, were successfully transfected to generate circumsporozoite protein (CSP) knockout parasites by double-crossover mechanisms. In vitro-transfected and cloned CSP knockout parasites were derived in a time span of only 18 days. Microscopic evaluation of developing oocysts from mosquitoes that had fed on CSP knockout parasites confirmed the impairment of sporozoite formation observed in P. berghei CSP knockout parasites. The P. knowlesi model currently is the only malaria system that combines rapid and precise double-crossover genetic manipulation procedures with complete in vitro as well as in vivo possibilities. This allows for full analysis of P. knowlesi genotype-phenotype relationships and host-parasite interactions in a system closely related to humans.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Abnormal behavior and neurotransmissions of tenascin gene knockout mouse.

To examine the role of tenascin (TN) in vivo, we have produced mice in which the TN gene is inactivated. In behavioral studies, TN-knockout mice showed abnormal behavior such as hyperlocomotion and poor swimming ability. Biochemical analysis revealed that serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) transmission was decreased in the cerebral cortex, the hippocampus, or the striatum of TN-knockout mouse brain. The intraperitoneal administration of the DA receptor agonist, LY171555 (0.5 mg/kg, BW), inhibited the hyperlocomotion, and swimming behavior was transiently improved by the treatment with the 5-HT receptor agonist, 1-(4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane hydrochloride. These findings suggest that TN may play an important role in neurotransmissions related to behavior.

Animals↗

Insight into adenosine receptor function using antisense and gene-knockout approaches.

The extensive role of adenosine in discriminating input from the extracellular environment is effected through a series of cell membrane-spanning proteins--the adenosine A1, A2A, A2B and A3 receptors. New genetic and epigenetic tools have emerged that facilitate the elucidation of the function of these receptors with greater specificity than is generally possible with traditional antagonist drugs. These tools include antisense oligonucleotides (epigenetic) and gene 'knockin' and 'knockout' mice (genetic) and are discussed in this article by Jonathan Nyce.

Animals↗

Facile methods for generating human somatic cell gene knockouts using recombinant adeno-associated viruses.

Emerging evidence suggests that recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vectors can be used for specific gene targeting in human somatic cells. We have developed an rAAV vector construction procedure employing fusion PCR and a single cloning step that considerably simplifies the knockout process. We demonstrate its utility by disrupting genes at specific positions within human colon cancer cells as well as within immortalized normal epithelial cells. This technology should be broadly applicable to in vitro studies that require the manipulation of the human genome.

Cell Line↗

Whole-genome analysis of 60 G protein-coupled receptors in Caenorhabditis elegans by gene knockout with RNAi.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of genes in animal genomes and represent more than 2% of genes in humans and C. elegans. These evolutionarily conserved seven-transmembrane proteins transduce a diverse range of signals. In view of their pivotal role in cell signaling, it is perhaps surprising that decades of genetic analysis in C. elegans, and recent genome-wide RNAi screens, have identified very few GPCR mutants. Therefore, we screened all GPCRs predicted to bind either small-molecule neurotransmitters or neuropeptides by using RNAi and quantitative behavioral assays. This shows that C16D6.2, C25G6.5, C26F1.6, F35G8.1, F41E7.3, and F59C12.2 are likely to be involved in reproduction, whereas C15B12.5, C10C6.2, C24A8.4, F15A8.5, F59D12.1, T02E9.1, and T05A1.1 have a role in locomotion. Gene deletions for F35G8.1 and T05A1.1 resulted in the same phenotype as that seen with RNAi. As some GPCRs may be resistant to RNAi, or may result in abnormalities not screened for here, the actual proportion of nonredundant receptors with an assayable function is probably greater. Strikingly, most phenotypes were observed for NPY-like receptors that may bind neuropeptides. This is consistent with the known actions of neuropeptides on the body wall muscle and reproductive tract in nematodes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Consequences of copper accumulation in the livers of the Atp7b-/- (Wilson disease gene) knockout mice.

Wilson disease is a severe genetic disorder associated with intracellular copper overload. The affected gene, ATP7B, has been identified, but the molecular events leading to Wilson disease remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that genetically engineered Atp7b-/- mice represent a valuable model for dissecting the disease mechanisms. These mice, like Wilson disease patients, have intracellular copper accumulation, low-serum oxidase activity, and increased copper excretion in urine. Their liver pathology developed in stages and was determined by the time of exposure to elevated copper rather than copper concentration per se. The disease progressed from mild necrosis and inflammation to extreme hepatocellular injury, nodular regeneration, and bile duct proliferation. Remarkably, all animals older than 9 months showed regeneration of large portions of the liver accompanied by the localized occurrence of cholangiocarcinoma arising from the proliferating bile ducts. The biochemical characterization of Atp7b-/- livers revealed copper accumulation in several cell compartments, particularly in the cytosol and nuclei. The increase in nuclear copper is accompanied by marked enlargement of the nuclei and enhanced DNA synthesis, with these changes occurring before pathology development. Our results suggest that the early effects of copper on cell genetic material contribute significantly to pathology associated with Atp7b inactivation.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

The interferon system and interferon regulatory factor transcription factors -- studies from gene knockout mice.

Interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) were initially identified as regulators of IFN-alpha/beta genes and to date nine members have been determined in human and mouse. They share a conserved DNA-binding domain in the N-terminal portion that recognizes similar DNA sequences. Despite their similar DNA binding specificity, the IRFs show diverse functions in response to extra cellular stimuli. Although the study of IRFs was started with respect to regulation of the IFN-alpha/beta gene expression, recent studies have revealed other aspects of IRF functions. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge of the functions of IRF family members revealed by our gene targeting study in mice, focusing on the regulation of the IFN system.

Animals↗

Applications of adhesion molecule gene knockout cell lines.

Cell lines derived from mice carrying targeted mutations in adhesion or ECM genes, and ES cell lines homozygous for mutations in these genes, have proved to be valuable tools to examine the functions of these molecules in development, and at a molecular level by in vitro experimentation. In many cases, the development of cell lines has exposed novel phenotypes not apparent from in vivo observations, possibly because the in vitro system under observation is more dependent on a specific molecule than is an entire organ or organism. These cell lines should continue to provide interesting model systems to study the molecular function of adhesion receptors.

Animals↗