Expression of a TNF inhibitorin transgenic mice

K. Peppel, A. Poltorak, I. Melhado, F. Jirik, B. Beutler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

We previously reported that a chimeric protein consisting of the human p55 TNF receptor covalently linked to a murine IgG1 Fc heavy chain acts as an efficient TNF inhibitor, as a result of its high binding affinity for native TNF trimers of both murine and human origin. A transgenic mouse line constitutively expressing the inhibitor from a cytomegalovirus promoter was established. All organs examined expressed the transgene. TNF inhibitory activity was easily detected in plasma of transgenic animals but not in plasma of nontransgenic littermates. This founder line was not found to have any obvious phenotype. Specifically, transgenic mice born to wild-type or transgenic females were indistinguishable from nontransgenic littermates with respect to their size at birth, at three months and at six months of age, with respect to the size and morphology of their lymphoid organs and with respect to their hematocrit, white blood cell count, and differential. Although TNF is known to be constitutively expressed by cells of the thymus and trophoblast, the lack of a clear phenotype in association with the constitutive expression of a TNF inhibitor suggests that TNF may be dispensable in early development.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)5699-5703
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Immunology
Volume151
Issue number10
StatePublished - Nov 15 1993

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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