huMST1(2) Mouse

MST1 (Mammalian STE20-like kinase 1), also known as hepatocyte growth factor-like protein (HGFL), is the natural ligand for the RON receptor tyrosine kinase. MST1 serves as a critical node connecting immune regulation and metabolic homeostasis. In tumor immunology, it modulates the immune status of the tumor microenvironment by regulating Treg stability, dendritic cell (DC) antigen presentation, macrophage polarization, and intrinsic lymphocyte functions ^[1-2]. In metabolic diseases, it participates in the pathogenesis of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), diabetes, and related complications through regulation of AMPK/SREBP-1c-mediated lipid metabolism signaling, mitophagy, and YAP signaling pathways ^[3-5].

The huMST1(2) humanized mouse is generated via gene-editing technology by replacing the sequences from the 5′UTR to the 3′UTR of the endogenous mouse Mst1 gene with the corresponding sequences from the 5′UTR to the 3′UTR of the human MST1 gene. In tumor immunology, this model can be used to evaluate the regulatory effects of MST1 on the functions of CD8⁺ T cells and Treg cells, and to investigate MST1-mediated immune regulatory mechanisms and its interactions with the tumor microenvironment. In metabolic diseases, this model can be utilized to explore the pathogenic mechanisms of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), liver fibrosis, and diabetes, as well as the development of MST1-targeted therapeutics.