Technology ID
TAB-3630

Murine Models of an Autoinflammatory Disease, Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), to Study the Pathophysiology of Inherited Disorders of Inflammation and Evaluate New Therapies

E-Numbers
E-284-2016-0
Lead Inventor
Kastner, Daniel ("Dan") (National Human Genome Research Institute (NIH/NHGRI))
Co-Inventors
Chae, Jae (National Human Genome Research Institute (NIH/NHGRI))
Applications
Therapeutics
Research Materials
Therapeutic Areas
Ophthalmology
Oncology
Infectious Disease
Endocrinology
Dental
Cardiology
Lead IC
NHGRI
This technology includes mouse models (heterozygous for the knock-in (KI) and homozygous for the knock-out (KO)) to be used as research reagents and to study molecular mechanisms and potential therapies for Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). FMF is the prototype of a group of inherited disorders characterized by recurring, spontaneous episodes of fever and localized inflammation. The gene responsible for FMF is composed of 10 exons encoding a 781 amino acid protein known as pyrin. In addition to FMF, some recent findings show that an abnormal activation of the pyrin inflammasome is the inflammation inducing factor for seemingly distinct autoinflammatory disorder, hyperimmunoglobulinemia D syndrome, and a mutation in pyrin is also a genetic risk factor for pyrin-associated autoinflammation and neutrophilic dermatosis. Thus, these murine models may be used to evaluate other autoinflammatory disorders in addition to FMF.
Commercial Applications
Mice models provide a much-needed tool to study the pathophysiology of inherited disorders of inflammation and to evaluate new therapies.

Competitive Advantages
Previous pyrin-deficient mice models develop normally and exhibit no overt phenotype; however, these models support a gain-of-function model with a gene-dosage effect, display varying disease severity, and can be used to investigate innate immune responses in autoinflammatory diseases other than FMF.
Licensing Contact:
Campbell, Eggerton
eggerton.campbell@nih.gov