Mice hemizygous for the IGFBP-2 transgene are viable and fertile with no reported gross morphological or developmental changes. Transgenic mice overexpress human IGFBP-2 (hIGFBP-2), with hIGFBP-2 mRNA detected in a variety of organs and tissues, including adipose tissue. Overexpression of hIGFBP-2 is associated with reduced susceptibility to obesity and improved insulin sensitivity; transgenic mice are protected from glucose intolerance and increased blood pressure with age, and are also resistant to obesity and insulin resistance on a high fat diet. The phenotype of hIGFBP-2 overexpressing mice may vary between male and female mice. These IGFBP-2 transgenic mice may be useful in studying metabolic homeostasis, adipocyte biology, and the role of insulin-like growth factor binding protein in protecting against obesity- and age-associated complications (such as hypertension and diabetes).
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. As these mice were originally characterized on the FVB/N genetic background, 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.
