Spink7-flox Mouse

Spink7, also known as Serine Peptidase Inhibitor Kazal type 7 and ECRG2, is a gene from the SPINK family. It functions as a tumor suppressor, regulates inflammatory responses, and maintains epithelial barrier integrity. It is involved in DNA damage response pathways, immune defense, and is relevant in various disease-related processes [1-2].

In Spink7-deficient mice, they showed high susceptibility to experimental colitis, characterized by enhanced weight loss, shorter colon length, and increased colonic tissue destruction. This indicates that Spink7 in the immune compartment, mainly from neutrophils, contributes to controlling chemokines/cytokines production and inflammation resolution during colitis [1]. In the context of wound healing, both local knockdown of Spink7 levels in wounds using siRNA gel and systemic knockout of Spink7 in KO mice led to delayed wound closure with sustained neutrophil infiltration, augmented inflammatory responses, and increased proteolytic activities of uPA, MMP2/9, and KLK5/7 [2].

In conclusion, Spink7 plays essential roles in regulating inflammation, whether in colitis or wound healing, as revealed by gene knockout mouse models. These models have provided valuable insights into its functions, suggesting that Spink7 could be a potential target for treating diseases related to inflammatory dysregulation.