Inducible arginase 1 deficiency in mice leads to hyperargininemia and altered amino acid metabolism.
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| Abstract |
Arginase deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder resulting from a loss of the liver arginase isoform, arginase 1 (ARG1), which is the final step in the urea cycle for detoxifying ammonia. ARG1 deficiency leads to hyperargininemia, characterized by progressive neurological impairment, persistent growth retardation and infrequent episodes of hyperammonemia. Using the Cre/loxP-directed conditional gene knockout system, we generated an inducible Arg1-deficient mouse model by crossing "floxed" Arg1 mice with CreER(T2) mice. The resulting mice (Arg-Cre) die about two weeks after tamoxifen administration regardless of the starting age of inducing the knockout. These treated mice were nearly devoid of Arg1 mRNA, protein and liver arginase activity, and exhibited symptoms of hyperammonemia. Plasma amino acid analysis revealed pronounced hyperargininemia and significant alterations in amino acid and guanidino compound metabolism, including increased citrulline and guanidinoacetic acid. Despite no alteration in ornithine levels, concentrations of other amino acids such as proline and the branched-chain amino acids were reduced. In summary, we have generated and characterized an inducible Arg1-deficient mouse model exhibiting several pathologic manifestations of hyperargininemia. This model should prove useful for exploring potential treatment options of ARG1 deficiency.
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| Authors | Yuan Yan Sin, Laurel L Ballantyne, Kamalika Mukherjee, Tim St Amand, Lianna Kyriakopoulou, Andreas Schulze, Colin D Funk |
| Journal | PloS one (PLoS One) Vol. 8 Issue 11 Pg. e80001 ( 2013) ISSN: 1932-6203 [Electronic] United States |
| PMID | 24224027 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't) |
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