Generation and application of gene knock-out rabbits for the study of atherosclerosis

利用转基因动物研究疾病相关基因的功能和候选蛋白质是十分必要的。在该领域，转基因小鼠被广泛应用于医学研究。但由于小鼠与人类在脂质代谢和心血管系统方面存在差异，因此认为小鼠不适合用于人类脂质代谢和心血管疾病的研究。本研究尝试建立胆固醇酯转运蛋白缺陷的体细胞系，并利用核移植技术，制备胆固醇酯转运蛋白基因敲除的家兔。

It is essential to use genetically modified animals for the elucidation of disease-related gene functions and therapeutic candidate proteins in vivo. In this field, transgenic mice are widely used in the medical research. However, due to the differences between mouse and human in lipid metabolism and cardiovascular system, it is considered that mice are not suitable for the research of lipid metabolism and cardiovascular disease of humans. In the current study, we attempted to establish a somatic cell line with cholesteryl ester transfer protein deficiency and then, using nuclear transfer technology, to make cholesteryl ester transfer protein knock-out rabbits.