A129 (Ifnar1 KO) Mouse

Interferons (IFNs) are potent cytokines that serve as a critical component of the body's first line of defense against viral infections, playing a key role in inflammation and immune control by directly inducing pathogen-inhibiting molecules that suppress viral replication ^[1]. Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) like Dengue virus (DENV), Zika virus (ZIKV), and Yellow Fever virus (YFV) encode proteins that antagonize the IFN response, helping these viruses evade host immunity and maintain sufficient viral loads in the blood (viremia) to sustain the vector-host transmission. Arboviruses pose a significant public health threat, affecting around 3.9 billion people in tropical and subtropical regions. However, most preclinical studies suggest that arboviruses cannot inhibit IFN responses in mice, rendering immunocompetent mice resistant to infection, with low viral loads and limited circulation, thus limiting their use in infection research ^[2-3]. As a result, immunodeficient mouse models with defects in multiple IFN signaling pathways have become essential tools for studying arbovirus pathogenesis and vaccine development ^[2-4].

Studies have demonstrated that wild-type mice of strains like C57BL/6, CD-1, or 129 rarely exhibit clinical symptoms after infection with arboviruses such as ZIKV. However, the virus has been detected in the blood, ovaries, and spleen of ZIKV-infected 129 mice, suggesting that this strain may be more susceptible to arboviruses ^[5-6]. Because the virus can persist in the bloodstream without causing disease or death, the 129 strain can be used to evaluate the teratogenic effects of such viruses. Furthermore, the 129 strain is commonly used in interferon signaling-deficient models related to other viral infections ^[7-8]. The IFNAR1 gene encodes a protein that is an essential component of the type I interferon (IFN) receptor, playing a critical role in the antiviral and immune responses. IFNAR1 is primarily expressed in immune cells, such as lymphocytes and dendritic cells, and various tissues, including the liver, brain, and skin. Defects in IFNAR1, whether due to mutations or regulatory abnormalities, can lead to severe diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, where excessive immune activation results in tissue damage, and certain cancers. Other diseases associated with IFNAR1 include hepatitis C, yellow fever, measles, papilloma, and viral infections.

The A129 (Ifnar1 KO) mice on a 129 background are a type I (α/β) interferon receptor (Ifnar1) gene knockout model. The absence of the IFNAR1 protein in these mice leads to a lack of type I IFN receptor function, thereby reducing immune response and increasing susceptibility to viral infections. Homozygous A129 (Ifnar1 KO) mice are viable and fertile, but they show increased susceptibility to arbovirus infections.