B6-hITGAV Mouse

The ITGAV gene encodes the Integrin subunit α V (also known as αv or CD51), a transmembrane glycoprotein that is a member of the integrin superfamily. The encoded preproprotein is proteolytically processed into light and heavy chains that form the αv subunit, which then heterodimerizes with various β subunits (specifically β1, β3, β5, β6, or β8) to create functional receptors, with the αv β3 heterodimer being famously known as the vitronectin receptor ^[1]. αv integrins function as essential cell surface adhesion and signaling receptors that mediate interactions with the extracellular matrix (ECM) ligands, often recognizing the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) sequence, playing a crucial role in cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, angiogenesis, and the activation of latent growth factors like TGF-β1 ^[2]. While generally expressed at low levels in most healthy tissues, ITGAV is notably found on various cell types, including endothelial cells, macrophages, osteoclasts, synovial fibroblasts, and mesenchymal stromal cells, and its expression is often highly upregulated in various pathological conditions, including several cancers (e.g., hepatocellular, prostate, colorectal, esophageal, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma), where its overexpression is frequently associated with poor prognosis and metastasis; additionally, ITGAV is implicated in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is exploited by various viral infections (e.g., West Nile virus, Adenovirus) ^[3].

B6-hITGAV mouse is a humanized model generated using gene editing technology, in which the sequence from partial exon 1 to partial intron 1 of mouse Itgav is replaced with ITGAV chimeric CDS-WPRE-BGH pA cassette. The murine signal peptide was preserved. This model can be used for studying the pathological mechanisms and therapeutic approaches of various cancers, autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and various viral infections, as well as for the development of ITGAV-targeted drugs.