B6-hITGB6 Mouse

The ITGB6 gene encodes the Integrin β subunit, a member of the integrin superfamily of adhesion receptors which are heterodimeric integral membrane proteins. This subunit pairs exclusively with the α subunit (encoded by ITGAV) to form the integrin αvβ6 heterodimer ^[1]. The primary function of the resulting αvβ6 protein is to mediate cell-to-extracellular matrix (ECM) signaling, particularly by binding to ECM ligands like fibronectin and, crucially, by activating latent transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), a cytokine that regulates tissue homeostasis, repair, and immune suppression. Gene expression is largely restricted to epithelial cells and is typically low or absent in healthy adult epithelia but is significantly upregulated in tissues undergoing development, wound healing, fibrosis, and in many cancers (e.g., pancreatic, colon, lung, oral squamous cell carcinoma) where its expression often correlates with poor prognosis and increased invasiveness ^[2]. Associated diseases include various forms of cancer, chronic organ fibrosis (such as pulmonary fibrosis), and rare genetic conditions like Amelogenesis Imperfecta and a syndrome characterized by alopecia and intellectual disability ^[3].

B6-hITGB6 mouse is a humanized model generated using gene editing technology, in which the sequence from aa.22 to partial intron 4 was replaced with Human ITGB6 CDS-Mouse Itgb6 CDS-3’UTR of Mouse Itgb6-WPRE-BGH pA cassette. The murine signal peptide was preserved. This model can be used for studying the pathological mechanisms and therapeutic approaches of various forms of cancer, chronic organ fibrosis (such as pulmonary fibrosis), and rare genetic conditions, as well as for the development of ITGB6-targeted drugs.