B6-hIL31RA Mouse

The IL31RA gene encodes the interleukin-31 receptor subunit alpha, a type I cytokine receptor that serves as a critical mediator in neuroimmune communication. The protein typically functions as a heterodimer by associating with the oncostatin M receptor (OSMRβ) to form the functional IL-31 receptor complex, which triggers intracellular signaling through the JAK/STAT (primarily STAT3), PI3K/AKT, and MAPK pathways ^[1]. While the gene is expressed at low levels across various tissues, including the testis, thymus, and bone marrow, it is highly localized and functionally significant in CD14+ monocytes, macrophages, keratinocytes, and a specific subset of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons. In these tissues, IL31RA plays a pivotal role in mediating pruritus (itching) and regulating skin immunity and inflammation ^[2]. Genetically, dysregulation of the IL31RA pathway is heavily implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and pruritic diseases such as atopic dermatitis, prurigo nodularis, allergic asthma, and certain cutaneous T-cell lymphomas, making it a major therapeutic target for monoclonal antibodies like nemolizumab ^[3].

The B6-hIL31RA mouse is a humanized model constructed through gene-editing technology, in which the sequences from aa.19 to partial intron 4 of mouse Il31ra were deleted, and the human IL31RA extracellular domain-mouse Il31ra transmembrane-cytoplasmic domain-3’UTR of mouse Il31ra WPRE-BGH pA cassette was inserted downstream of mouse Il31ra signal peptide. This model can be used for research on inflammatory and pruritic diseases such as atopic dermatitis, prurigo nodularis, allergic asthma, and certain cutaneous T-cell lymphomas, as well as for screening, development, and preclinical evaluation of IL31RA-targeted therapeutics.