Transgenic Animal Models of Cardiovascular Diseases

With the rapid development of transgenic animal technology in recent years, it now plays a crucial role in basic research into biology and medical science. Ace Therapeutics has a mature transgenic technology platform, which can provide customers with full life cycle development services for transgenic animal construction.

Applications of Transgenic Animals in Medical Research

At present, transgenic animals are widely used in medical research, which can be used to establish animal models of various diseases and promote the development of disease pathogenesis and therapy methods. Specifically, specific genes that produce certain diseases are used as exogenous genes, which are introduced into recipient cells and eventually developed into transgenic animal models. In the field of cardiovascular disease research, ApoE-/- and Ldlr-/- mice, hereditary hyperlipidemic rabbits (WHHL), and pigs with mutant LDLR or ApoE genes have been used to study the mechanisms of disease onset and progression.

Fig. 1 Diseases of transgenic pig model application. (Wei J, et al., 2022)

Based on the unique needs of our clients in cardiovascular disease research, Ace Therapeutics can offer our customers the development of transgenic animal models for cardiovascular disease research, including but not limited to the following methods:

Workflow of Transgenic Animal Model Construction

Target Gene and Expression Vector Construction

We can frame expression vectors for target genes of cardiovascular disease-related causal genes according to the customized needs of our clients.

• Available Expression Vectors
  Plasmid vectors: pcDNA3.1(+), pcDNA3.1(-)
  Viral vectors: adenovirus, retrovirus, adeno-associated virus, lentivirus
• Available Recipient Animal Species
  Mice, rats, rabbits, pigs and other custom animals

Exogenous Gene Introduction Methods

• Microinjection Method
  We can use micromanipulation techniques to integrate exogenous genes into host fertilized eggs by introducing exogenous gene fragments directly into embryos or cultured cells at the prokaryotic stage.
• Retroviral Infection Method
  We can use retroviruses as vectors to introduce exogenous genes into host embryos by packaging recombinant retroviral vector DNA into high-titer viral particles that infect embryos at early stages of embryonic development.
• Sperm Carrier Method
  We can provide a sperm carrier method to construct transgenic animal models. Specifically, the spermatozoa are first incubated with exogenous DNA with mature spermatozoa so that the spermatozoa acquire the ability to carry the exogenous DNA, and then the spermatozoa are used as a carrier for the exogenous DNA to be introduced into the recipient cells in the transgenic process.
• Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Method
  We can introduce exogenous genes as nuclear donors into animal somatic cells, transplant the nuclei into enucleated, unfertilized mature oocytes, and then activate the embryos to be transplanted into surrogate females to prepare transgenic animals.

Animal Model Validation

After the transgenic animal pups are born, we can choose to use PCR identification, spot hybridization, and southern blotting to analyze whether the transgenic animal model has been successfully constructed.

Ace Therapeutics has a complete technology platform for transgenic animal construction and extensive experience in the development of genetically engineered animals, and we are able to provide customized transgenic animal models according to our clients' needs. If you are interested in our services, please don't hesitate to contact us.

1. Wei, J.; et al. Application of the transgenic pig model in biomedical research: A review. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2022, 10:1031812.