B6-hCFTR*F508del Mouse

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a critical protein that maintains the salt and water balance across various human organs, including the lungs, pancreas, and sweat glands. The primary function of CFTR is to act as a chloride channel, regulating the transport of chloride and bicarbonate ions across epithelial cell membranes, thereby maintaining tissue fluid balance and pH. This process is ATP-dependent and also modulates the activity of other ion channels and transport proteins ^[1-2]. Mutations in the CFTR gene can lead to chloride channel dysfunction, resulting in various diseases, with cystic fibrosis (CF) being the most common. CF is the most prevalent lethal genetic disease among Caucasians, with an incidence of approximately 1/2,500 to 1/1,800, and about 90,000 cases globally ^[3-4]. The disease is characterized by thickened mucus in the lungs, frequent respiratory infections, pancreatic insufficiency, and male infertility, typically due to vas deferens obstruction. The F508del (ΔF508) mutation is the most common pathogenic mutation in CF, with about 80% of CF patients carrying at least one allele of this mutation, and approximately 40% being homozygous ^[5]. This mutation causes the deletion of phenylalanine (F508) in the first nucleotide-binding domain (NBD1) of the CFTR protein, leading to misfolding and endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mediated degradation, preventing CFTR from reaching the cell membrane and compromising chloride channel function, which results in chronic pulmonary symptoms ^[6-7]. Current treatments for CF mainly focus on CFTR modulators to restore the function of the mutated CFTR protein. CFTR modulators are classified into potentiators (which enhance CFTR function) and correctors (which assist in the proper folding and trafficking of CFTR to the cell membrane). Representative drugs include Ivacaftor, Lumacaftor, and triple-combination CFTR modulating therapy Elexacaftor-Tezacaftor-Ivacaftor ^[8].

This strain was developed by introducing the F508del mutation into the CFTR-humanized mouse model (Catalog Number: C001964), creating a humanized disease model. The introduction of the mutation results in the manifestation of CF-related phenotypes in mice, making it suitable for research into CF mechanisms and the screening, development, and evaluation of therapies targeting the CFTR F508del mutation. This strain requires feeding with intestinal cleansers to maintain survival after 3 weeks of age. In addition, based on the independently developed TurboKnockout fusion BAC recombination technology, Cyagen can also generate hot mutation models based on the CFTR-humanized strain and provide customized services for specific mutations to meet the experimental needs in pharmacology and other fields.