Mouse Model for Vitamin D Regulated Antimicrobial Peptide Expression

Technology Description

 

Oregon State University is seeking collaborative research opportunities or licensees for a humanized mouse model for vitamin D regulated antimicrobial peptide expression. The developed animal model is a transgenic mouse that carries a 6.2 kb human genomic DNA that possess the cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (CAMP) gene. Vitamin D regulates the expression of the CAMP gene in both immune and epithelial barrier cells. This occurs via toll-like receptor signaling that activates the vitamin D pathway. This mechanism may explain the ability of vitamin D to boost the innate immune response and protect against infection.

 

Features & Benefits

 

  • Humanized
  • Demonstrated transgene expression in relevant tissues and immune cells
  • Inducible by active Vitamin D ex vivo
  • Inducible by active Vitamin D in vivo

 

Applications

 

  • Pharmaceutical/nutraceutical R&D
  • Vitamin D-cathelicidin pathway studies

 

Background of Invention

 

There is considerable evidence that vitamin D plays a role preventing infections, and that it may be useful as a treatment. The regulation of CAMP by vitamin D receptor is conserved in humans and non-human primates, but not in other mammals such as mice due to the lack of a vitamin D receptor response element. Thus, there is a need for a humanized mouse model to facilitate studies of vitamin D in preventing and treating infections.

 

Status

 

Available to license a biological material

 

Patent Information:
Tech ID:
OSU-16-28
Contact:
Joe Christison
Assistant Director, IP & Licensing
Oregon State University
541-737-9016
joe.christison@oregonstate.edu
Inventors:
Adrian Gombart
Keywords:
Animal Model
Antimicrobial
Biotechnology
Vitamin D regulation
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