huINHBE Mouse

Inhibin βE subunit (INHBE) is a member of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily, highly specifically expressed in liver cells. The precursor protein of INHBE generates the inhibin β subunit after proteolytic processing. This protein is associated with various cellular processes, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, immune response, and hormone secretion. During the development of obesity and diabetes, the expression of INHBE protein inhibits the proliferation and growth of relevant cells in the pancreas and liver. Research has found a positive correlation between INHBE expression in the liver and insulin resistance and body mass index (BMI), suggesting that INHBE may be a liver factor in altering systemic metabolic status under conditions of obesity-related insulin resistance ^[1].

The studies conducted by Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and the Regeneron Genetics Center (RGC), respectively, revealed the close relationship between INHBE and fat regulation. The research demonstrated that rare loss-of-function variants in INHBE may protect the liver from the impact of inflammation, abnormal blood lipids, and type 2 diabetes by promoting healthy fat storage. Patients carrying such mutations exhibit more normal fat distribution, significantly reduced abdominal fat, improved metabolic conditions, and a decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes ^[2-4]. These findings suggest that INHBE is a liver-specific negative regulator of fat storage. Inhibiting the expression of INHBE genes and proteins may be a potential strategy for treating metabolic disorders related to improper fat distribution and storage. Consequently, several small nucleic acid pharmaceutical companies, including Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, and Wave Life Sciences, are currently developing RNA interference (RNAi) drugs targeting INHBE to treat conditions such as obesity ^[5-7].

RNAi drugs primarily include small interfering RNA (siRNA) and antisense oligonucleotides (ASO). siRNA targets and degrades specific mRNA, while ASO binds to the target mRNA, preventing its translation or inducing its degradation, thereby inhibiting the expression of the target gene. Considering the genetic differences between humans and animals, humanizing mouse genes can accelerate the clinical development of RNAi therapies targeting human INHBE. This strain is a mouse Inhbe gene humanized model and can be used to study therapies targeting INHBE for obesity. The homozygous huINHBE mice are viable and fertile. In addition, based on the independently developed TurboKnockout fusion BAC recombination technology, Cyagen can also generate hot mutation models based on this strain and provide customized services for specific mutations to meet the experimental needs in pharmacology and other fields.