B6.129S4-Il2rg^tm1Wjl/J

Stock number: 003174
Product name: IL2Rγ^null
Research areas: Cancer Research, Immunology, Inflammation and Autoimmunity Research, Research Tools

Description

These IL-2Rγ-chain deficient mice are useful when studying NK cell development and innate immunity.

Detailed description

Mice homozygous for the Il2rg^tm1Wjl targeted mutation are viable and fertile. Mutant mice have hypoplastic thymuses with a 10-fold reduction in the absolute number of lymphocytes. They have a limited number of mature splenic B and T cells, lack NK cells and Peyer's patches, and development of gut-associated intraepithelial lymphocytes is diminished. In vitro studies show defects in NK activity, IL4-directed Ig class switching of thymocytes, and thymocyte mitogenic responses. Gene product (mRNA and protein) is not detected by Northern and western blot analysis of spleen or thymus tissue from hemizygous males.

In an attempt to offer alleles on well-characterized or multiple genetic backgrounds, alleles are frequently moved to a genetic background different from that on which an allele was first characterized. It should be noted that the phenotype could vary from that originally described. We will modify the strain description if necessary as published results become available.

Development

A targeting vector containing a neomycin resistance cassette was used to disrupt part of exon 3 and all of exons 4 through 8 of the Il2rg gene. The construct was electroporated into 129S4/SvJae derived J1 embryonic stem (ES) cells. Correctly targeted ES cells were injected into C57BL/6 blastocysts. The resulting chimeric animals were crossed to C57BL/6 mice. The mice were then backcrossed to C57BL/6 for 10 generations by the Donating Investigator.

Allele

Symbol: Il2rg^tm1Wjl
Name: targeted mutation 1, Warren J Leonard
MGI accession ID: MGI:1857455
Generation method: Targeted
Attributes: Null/Knockout
Marker symbol: Il2rg
Marker name: interleukin 2 receptor, gamma chain
Chromosome: X
Strain of origin: 129S4/SvJae
Site of expression: Primarily lymphoid cells.
Molecular note: A neomycin resistance cassette replaced part of exon 3 and all of exons 4 - 8 of the gene, resulting in the loss of most of the extracellular domain and all of the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of the protein.