IBD Portfolio

Inflammatory Bowel Disease Mouse Models

Easy access to key models

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a growing problem, with increasing incidence worldwide and a need for additional therapeutic options for patients.

Taconic Biosciences offers access to models in all of three of the major classes of IBD mouse models, sold with full use rights for drug discovery and development. And as the microbiome leader, Taconic offers more options for investigation of the microbiome as it relates to IBD.

Let Taconic be your one-stop shop for IBD models!

Strains for chemically-induced colitis

Chemically-induced colitis models are relatively simple and inexpensive. Inbred strains such as B6 or BALB/c are commonly used, but this model can be applied to a wide variety of strains, including GEMs and even human immune system-engrafted mice.

Paired strains for adoptive transfer colitis

In the adoptive transfer model of colitis, naïve T cells are harvested from a donor mouse and injected into an immunodeficient mouse to cause colitis. Various donor/recipient pairs may be used in this model, leading to differing severity and disease characteristics.

Note that donor T cells may be sourced from relevant GEM lines rather than wild type inbred donors and used with immunodeficient recipients on the same background.

The microbiological status of recipients may affect performance in this model. Murine Pathogen Free™ (MPF™) health standard recipients, such as model RAGN12 may be preferred for some applications (see example data). Custom microbial association is available from Taconic for all recipients to assist in optimizing experimental protocols.

Genetically Engineered Mouse models of spontaneous colitis

Colitis occurs spontaneously due to gene knockout and response to the microbiome:

• Mdr1a knockout (MDR1A) - available exclusively from Taconic
• Il10 knockout on B6 background (16006) - available for drug discovery under a simple label license
• Il10 knockout on BALB/c background (15660) - available for drug discovery under a simple label license

Mdr1a mice are a model for disrupted gut barrier function leading to spontaneous inflammation. Under conventional conditions, Mdr1a knockouts will typically develop inflammation by ~20 weeks of age. Association with select microbial agents may accelerate disease progression. Please inquire about Taconic's custom microbial association services.

Il10 knockout mice develop spontaneous colitis due to dysregulated immune responses to endogenous gut microbiota. Taconic's Il10 knockouts are available at conventional (Opportunist Free) and Germ Free health standards. Association with select microbial agents may accelerate disease progression. Please inquire about Taconic's custom microbial association services.

Microbiome and IBD

The influence of the microbiome on IBD is well-documented. Only Taconic can offer a full range of health standard options to facilitate microbiome research, including germ-free mice. For most IBD studies, the Murine Pathogen Free™ (MPF™) health standard is preferred. The more restrictive Opportunist Free™ (OF™) standard may be required when working with immunodeficient models such as C.B-17 scid for adoptive transfer colitis models or with human immune-system engrafted mice. Germ-free mice, which are completely devoid of a microbiome, are critical tools for study of microbiome effects. Taconic offers both standard strains and GEMs as germ-free mice and can provide both germ-free derivations for other strains as well as fecal microbiota transplantation services in germ-free mice.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease Resources