At Ace Therapeutics, we are dedicated to providing preclinical research services to accelerate the advancement of ocular therapy development. By leveraging our expertise in gene editing and ocular disease modeling, we offer custom Foxc2 mutant mouse models of glaucoma, enabling researchers to gain deep insights into glaucoma pathogenesis and evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic strategies.
FOXC2 is a Key Player in Glaucoma
Glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness globally, is often characterized by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) resulting from compromised aqueous humor outflow. This outflow is primarily regulated by the trabecular meshwork (TM) and Schlemm's canal (SC) within the ocular anterior segment. FOXC2, a member of the forkhead box family of transcription factors, plays a critical role in the development and maintenance of ocular drainage structures such as the TM and SC. FOXC2 mutations or deficiencies can lead to abnormalities in the anterior segment structures, such as underdeveloped or absent SC and TM, which in turn disrupt aqueous humor outflow and elevate IOP.
Fig. 1 Vis-OCTA and vis-OCT identify corneal neovascularization and reduced SC area and volume in NC-Foxc2-/- mice. (Ujiie N, et al., 2023)
Custom Foxc2 Mutant Mouse Models of Glaucoma
Using genetic engineering techniques, our team of experts can develop tailored Foxc2 mutant mouse models that recapitulate human glaucoma-associated genetic conditions to support the investigation of cell type-specific FOXC2 functions in glaucoma pathogenesis.
Foxc2 Knockout Mouse Models of Glaucoma
- Foxc2 haploinsufficient mice (Foxc2+/- mice)
We offer custom generation of mice with a reduced copy number of the Foxc2 gene. These Foxc2+/- mice serve as essential tools for investigating the systemic effects of decreased FOXC2 level on overall ocular development and IOP regulation, reflecting conditions of haploinsufficiency observed in certain human glaucomatous diseases. - Cell-specific conditional knockout mice
Our expert team is dedicated to developing genetically engineered mouse models with cell-specific conditional knockout of Foxc2 to support glaucoma research. For instance, we can develop neural crest (NC)-specific Foxc2 knockout mice to investigate the non-cell-autonomous role of FOXC2 in TM cells and its effects on SC development and IOP.
Foxc2 Knock-in Mouse Models of Glaucoma
We can provide Foxc2 knock-in mouse models in which the Foxc2 gene is inserted into the genome under the control of specific promoters to overexpress FOXC2 in target tissues.
Foxc2 Mutant Mouse Model Evaluation Services
In addition to our model generation capabilities, Ace Therapeutics offers a full range of preclinical research services designed to leverage Foxc2 mutant mouse models for studying glaucoma pathogenesis and supporting therapeutic development.
| Services | Details |
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| IOP measurement |
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| Anterior segment morphological assessment |
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| Glaucomatous neuropathy assessment |
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Ace Therapeutics is your trusted partner in providing custom Foxc2 mutant mouse models for glaucoma research. Our comprehensive preclinical services are specifically designed to empower researchers to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of glaucoma and develop novel therapeutics. For more information about our services, please contact us directly.
References
- Smith R S, et al. Haploinsufficiency of the transcription factors Foxc1 and FOXC2 results in aberrant ocular development. Hum Mol Genet, 2000, 9(7): 1021-1032.
- Ujiie N, et al. Differential roles of FOXC2 in the trabecular meshwork and Schlemm's canal in glaucomatous pathology. Life Sci Alliance, 2023, 6(9): e202201721.