huRHO(2)-P23H Mouse

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a hereditary retinal disease with a global prevalence of approximately 1:5000-1:3000. RP is highly clinically and genetically heterogeneous, with mutations in the rhodopsin (RHO) gene causing approximately 25% of dominant RP ^[1]. The rhodopsin encoded by the RHO gene is closely associated with visual light transduction and GPCR downstream signals. Rhodopsin is essential for the transmission of light signals in the process of vision formation. Most RHO mutations lead to high levels of rhodopsin expression in photoreceptor cells, causing many mutant proteins to be abnormally located and aggregated in cells. This results in the apoptosis of photoreceptor cells, which cannot perform normal light signal transduction functions. Additionally, mutations in the RHO gene are associated with congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB) ^[2-6]. Mutations in the RHO gene can lead to rhodopsin-mediated autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (RHO-adRP). In 25% of autosomal dominant inherited RP (adRP) cases, there are over 150 different RHO gene mutations. Notably, the P23H mutation is one of the most prevalent, accounting for 10% of adRP cases ^[2]. Previous studies have shown that mice carrying the heterozygous human RHO P23H mutation exhibit retinopathy and progressive retinal degeneration similar to the patient's disease process, which could be used for visual signaling and retinitis pigmentosa (RP) studies ^[3]. Current gene therapy targeting the RHO gene to treat retinitis pigmentosa includes ASO, CRISPR, and others. Applying fully humanized animal models will promote the further development of RHO-related potential therapies in clinical trials ^[7-11].

This strain is a mouse Rho gene humanized model, in which the endogenous mouse Rho gene and Rho gene promoter are replaced by the human RHO gene carrying a P23H mutation and RHO gene promoter to express human retinal proteins in mice. Therefore, the abnormal protein encoded by the human gene was expressed in mice, resulting in abnormal retinal appearance and function and visual defects in this model. Based on the self-developed technological innovation of TurboKnockout fusion BAC recombination, Cyagen can also provide customized services for different point mutations to meet the needs of a wide range of R&D personnel regarding the pharmacodynamics of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and other preclinical needs.