B6-hPCSK9/Apoe KO Mouse

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9) is a serine protease primarily produced in the liver but expressed in other tissues, including the intestine, heart, and neurons. The N-terminal domain of the PCSK9 protein is responsible for protein localization and stability, while the C-terminal domain is responsible for protein enzymatic activity ^[1]. The Low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) is a receptor that is responsible for clearing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) from the blood. PCSK9 cleaves the intracellular domain of LDLR on the cell surface, causing it to detach from the cell membrane and be transported to the lysosome for degradation, promoting LDLR degradation, and increasing plasma LDL-C. Overexpression or gain-of-function mutations of the PCSK9 gene can lead to LDL-C accumulation by reducing LDLR levels. This can cause hypercholesterolemia, which increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease, and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease ^[2]. PCSK9 has become an important target for the development of lipid-lowering drugs. Several PCSK9-targeted antibodies or small nucleic acid drugs have been approved for marketing worldwide, including evolocumab from Amgen, alirocumab from Sanofi and Regeneron, and inclisiran from Novartis. These drugs primarily work by inhibiting PCSK9 activity or preventing PCSK9 protein from binding to LDLR, lowering LDL-C levels in the blood to treat hypercholesterolemia ^[3-4]. In addition, PCSK9 can promote tumor growth and development by regulating cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. It can also regulate the expression of inflammatory factors that contribute to inflammation. Therefore, targeting the expression of PCSK9 has been investigated in tumor immunotherapy and autoimmune disease therapy ^[5-6].

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is a lipid particle-associated polymorphic carrier protein encoded by the APOE gene. It is a core component of plasma lipoproteins, participating in the production, transport, and clearance of lipoproteins. ApoE is associated with chylomicrons, chylomicron remnants, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL), especially showing preferential binding to HDL ^[7]. ApoE is the most important lipid transport protein in the body, having a profound impact on lipid metabolism. The interaction of ApoE with the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) is essential for the normal processing (catabolism) of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins ^[8]. In peripheral tissues, ApoE is primarily produced by the liver and macrophages and mediates cholesterol metabolism. In the central nervous system, ApoE is produced mainly by astrocytes and is the major cholesterol carrier in the brain. ApoE is essential for transporting cholesterol from astrocytes to neurons ^[7-10]. In addition, ApoE forms a complex with activated C1q, becoming a checkpoint inhibitor target of the classical complement pathway ^[11]. Polymorphisms of the APOE are associated with Alzheimer's disease and lipid accumulation, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, high cholesterolemia, etc., and are related to the risk of various cardiovascular diseases.

The B6-hPCSK9/Apoe KO mice are obtained by crossing B6-hPCSK9 mice (Catalog No.: I001179) with B6J-Apoe KO mice (Catalog No.: C001507). B6J-Apoe KO mice exhibit elevated cholesterol levels and spontaneous atherosclerosis phenotypes due to the disruption of ApoE protein synthesis, further exacerbated under a high-fat diet (HFD). On the other hand, B6-hPCSK9 mice have the mouse Pcsk9 gene sequence replaced with the human PCSK9 gene sequence through gene editing technology, expressing the human PCSK9 protein. They can be used for the development of PCSK9-targeted drugs in hyperlipidemia, stroke, coronary heart disease, and other atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD). The B6-hPCSK9/Apoe KO mice, while expressing the human PCSK9 protein, exhibit significantly elevated cholesterol levels and spontaneous atherosclerosis characteristics. These mice provide an ideal platform for the PCSK9-targeted drug development in hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular diseases, demonstrating good clinical and pathological relevance.