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Fumarylacetoacetate Hydrolase Knock-out Rabbit Model for Hereditary Tyrosinemia Type 1.

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Peer-reviewed

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Article

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Authors

Li, Li 
Zhang, Quanjun 
Yang, Huaqiang 
Zou, Qingjian 
Lai, Chengdan 

Abstract

Hereditary tyrosinemia type 1 (HT1) is a severe human autosomal recessive disorder caused by the deficiency of fumarylacetoacetate hydroxylase (FAH), an enzyme catalyzing the last step in the tyrosine degradation pathway. Lack of FAH causes accumulation of toxic metabolites (fumarylacetoacetate and succinylacetone) in blood and tissues, ultimately resulting in severe liver and kidney damage with onset that ranges from infancy to adolescence. This tissue damage is lethal but can be controlled by administration of 2-(2-nitro-4-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione (NTBC), which inhibits tyrosine catabolism upstream of the generation of fumarylacetoacetate and succinylacetone. Notably, in animals lacking FAH, transient withdrawal of NTBC can be used to induce liver damage and a concomitant regenerative response that stimulates the growth of healthy hepatocytes. Among other things, this model has raised tremendous interest for the in vivo expansion of human primary hepatocytes inside these animals and for exploring experimental gene therapy and cell-based therapies. Here, we report the generation of FAH knock-out rabbits via pronuclear stage embryo microinjection of transcription activator-like effector nucleases. FAH-/- rabbits exhibit phenotypic features of HT1 including liver and kidney abnormalities but additionally develop frequent ocular manifestations likely caused by local accumulation of tyrosine upon NTBC administration. We also show that allogeneic transplantation of wild-type rabbit primary hepatocytes into FAH-/- rabbits enables highly efficient liver repopulation and prevents liver insufficiency and death. Because of significant advantages over rodents and their ease of breeding, maintenance, and manipulation compared with larger animals including pigs, FAH-/- rabbits are an attractive alternative for modeling the consequences of HT1.

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Keywords

animal model, gene knock-out, liver, stem cells, transplantation, Animals, Disease Models, Animal, Female, Gene Knockout Techniques, Hepatocytes, Humans, Hydrolases, Kidney, Liver, Liver Failure, Male, Rabbits, Tyrosinemias

Journal Title

J Biol Chem

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0021-9258
1083-351X

Volume Title

292

Publisher

Elsevier BV
Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (096956/Z/11/Z)
Wellcome Trust