In Vivo Iron Overload Model Development

Evaluating the efficacy and safety of novel drug candidates for iron overload diseases requires robust and relevant in vivo models. Our service specializes in the development and utilization of a diverse panel of animal models that accurately mimic various aspects of human iron overload conditions, providing a critical platform for novel drug candidate evaluation.

Leveraging established expertise in animal model generation and phenotyping, we offer comprehensive services utilizing both mouse (Mus musculus) and rat (Rattus norvegicus) species. Our capabilities encompass, but are not limited to, a range of model types in the table, designed to address different facets of iron dysregulation.

Chemically-Induced Iron Overload Models

We employ various chemical agents such as ferrous sulfate, iron-dextran, and iron-sucrose, administered via routes like intraperitoneal or intravenous injection, across different strains including C57BL/6N, Kunming, Ly5.1, Balb/c, CF-1, and NMRI mice, as well as Wistar rats. These models are valuable for studying acute or chronic iron accumulation and evaluating the effectiveness of chelating agents or other drugs aimed at reducing systemic or organ-specific iron burden.

Dietary Iron Overload Models

By providing animals with an iron-rich diet, we establish models (available in C57BL/6 mice and Wistar rats) that reflect increased dietary iron absorption, relevant to conditions influenced by nutritional factors or dysregulated intestinal uptake.

Genetic Iron Overload Models

Our portfolio includes genetically modified models, such as the homeostatic iron regulator (HFE) knockout mouse model. This model specifically recapitulates the genetic defect most commonly responsible for hereditary hemochromatosis in humans, offering a highly relevant system to test therapies targeting the underlying causes of this inherited disorder.

While our focus is on iron overload, we also develop models for studying iron deficiency (Wistar rats on an iron-deficient diet), allowing for comparative studies and a broader understanding of drug effects on overall iron homeostasis.

Our service provides a complete solution from model selection and development to study design, execution, and comprehensive data analysis. We are equipped to assess key efficacy endpoints, including measurements of tissue iron levels (e.g., liver, heart, spleen), serum iron parameters (serum iron, transferrin saturation, ferritin), and the expression of key iron regulatory proteins (e.g., hepcidin, ferroportin, transferrin receptor).