Hyperlipidemia and hepatitis in liver-specific CREB3L3 knockout mice generated using a one-step CRISPR/Cas9 system

Sci Rep. 2016 Jun 13:6:27857. doi: 10.1038/srep27857.

Abstract

cAMP responsive element binding protein 3-like 3 (CREB3L3), a transcription factor expressed in the liver and small intestine, governs fasting-response energy homeostasis. Tissue-specific CREB3L3 knockout mice have not been generated till date. To our knowledge, this is the first study using the one-step CRISPR/Cas9 system to generate CREB3L3 floxed mice and subsequently obtain liver- and small intestine-specific Creb3l3 knockout (LKO and IKO, respectively) mice. While LKO mice as well as global KO mice developed hypertriglyceridemia, LKO mice exhibited hypercholesterolemia in contrast to hypocholesterolemia in global KO mice. LKO mice demonstrated up-regulation of hepatic Srebf2 and its corresponding target genes. No phenotypic differences were observed between IKO and floxed mice. Severe liver injury was observed in LKO mice fed a methionine-choline deficient diet, a model for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. These results provide new evidence regarding the hepatic CREB3L3 role in plasma triglyceride metabolism and hepatic and intestinal CREB3L3 contributions to cholesterol metabolism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems / genetics*
  • Cholesterol / metabolism
  • Choline Deficiency
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / deficiency
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / genetics*
  • Female
  • Hepatitis, Animal / etiology*
  • Hepatitis, Animal / metabolism
  • Hyperlipidemias / etiology*
  • Hyperlipidemias / metabolism
  • Hyperlipidemias / veterinary
  • Insulin / blood
  • Intestine, Small / metabolism
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Liver / pathology
  • Male
  • Methionine / deficiency
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / etiology
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / metabolism
  • Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 2 / metabolism
  • Triglycerides / blood
  • Triglycerides / metabolism
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Creb3l3 protein, mouse
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein
  • Insulin
  • Srebf2 protein, mouse
  • Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 2
  • Triglycerides
  • Cholesterol
  • Methionine